Alice ThwaiteJan 19, 2023

Effective altruism has been raised as a "good" movement again. Here's a decent overview of why it's a bit too simplistic, and a bit paternalistic. https://www.abc.net.au/religion/why-effective-altruism-is-not-effective/13310708

Any other articles please send them my way, I'm finding it increasingly difficult to argue with people who think that "doing good" can be reduced to mathematical calculations by a privileged few.

Why effective altruism is not effective - ABC Religion & Ethics

Effective altruism focuses on giving in a way that undermines its own effectiveness. In order to appeal to more people, it adopts an individualistic consumerist frame which cannot help but foreclose political means of solving problems. Its distinctive commitment to the logic of individualist consumerism makes effective altruism incapable of achieving large-scale projects, like the elimination of global poverty.

ABC Religion & Ethics
Show threadaaronaaronvbJan 21, 2023
@alicethwaite
it's probably not either/or like always. without private initiative there would be more starvation in this world. however, it's a scandal that the question if people living or dying depends on private generosity, even the generosity of states.
private spending on humanitarian issues does help, but these problems can only be solved by the state or even on the international level.
however, the question of paternalism isn't solved by this either.
Show threadaaronaaronvbJan 21, 2023
@alicethwaite
however, the question of paternalism isn't solved by this either.
Show threadAlice Thwaite
@aaronaaronvb yeh I think the problem is that communities who are affected aren't included in the solution. They could be, but then it would look a lot more like other ethical movements that aren't EA.
Jan 23, 2023 at 7:45pmWeb