Purchase fuzzies and utilons separately

Abstract

Charities can be evaluated based on their expected utilons. The author emphasizes purchasing fuzzies and status separately from utilons. While acts of altruism such as opening the door for someone may restore the giver’s willpower, the value of the act cannot be solely attributed to its utility. Purchasing fuzzies through acts that directly benefit others can generate more intense feelings of altruism compared to donating to large organizations. However, purchasing utilons is distinct from purchasing fuzzies, as it involves optimizing for the most efficient means of producing good outcomes, often requiring specialized knowledge and cold-blooded calculations. These three aspects—utilons, fuzzies, and status—can be purchased more effectively when pursued separately. Focusing solely on utilons will maximize expected value, motivating the author to recommend allocating funds to organizations that generate the most utilons per dollar. – AI-generated abstract.