Effective Altruism

This place gives off an altruistic vibe.

Anyone interested in the movement/philosophy?

Have you seen the response to this? https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/379606/#comment16709980

Big fan, got ‎William MacAskill's new book sat waiting to be read

I read a fascinating biography called Price of Altruism a few years ago, about George Price who was very eccentric character and discovered a formula on the subject (to cut a long story short).

What is the formula?

Take a look at New Citizenship Project and Jon Alexander’s new book Citizens.

https://www.newcitizenship.org.uk/

https://www.jonalexander.net/the-idea

Highlights the one flaw in that although effective altruism is better, it doesn’t make any significant change.

Am interest in Rory Stewart’s new venture based on effective altruism but taking it further by giving people usually seen as ‘beneficiaries’ actual cash and from what I understand letting them decide where to spend for much better benefits than when an ngo gets in the way/slows things down.

(Full of head cold so bit of a ramble)

My very limited understanding: I’ve £10 to give away- what’s the best use of this money?

These charities deliver the maximum benefit for your £1
https://www.givewell.org/charities/top-charities

Don't want to pick one charity, consider a fund that distributes it between top charities
https://www.givewell.org/our-giving-funds

These funds also allow you to allocate donation for maximum impact
https://www.givingwhatwecan.org/donate/organizations

If you are PAYE, see if your company offers give as you earn which allows you to donate pre tax and increases your giving

A good rebuttal to EA
https://erikhoel.substack.com/p/why-i-am-not-an-effective-altruist

They also recently ran a competition asking for criticisms and recommendations for improvements, here are the winners
https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/YgbpxJmEdFhFGpqci/winners-of-the-ea-criticism-and-red-teaming-contest

Sam Bankman-Fried getting done for swindling his customers, seems like fraud is maybe not the most effective form of altruism

https://youtu.be/KMpJHxzenTI

Sorry for late reply, this is a good watch on the subject by the author of the biography. Fascinating character.

Yeah, promising to donate your fortune kind of doesn’t work when you loose all that fortune

This is also a good rebuttal on unherd re the problems with long termism. And also highlights that EA deliberately removes the moral or value judgements we make when thinking about donating, which doesn’t make sense to me as a donation is a moral/ethical act based on values and experience.

For the OP - just make a call on where you feel you want to donate based on what cause resonates closest to you and possibly which charity in that space can show its impact most effectively or tells its story in a way that feels right for you. Or volunteer your time, experience and skills and make a more direct contribution.

https://unherd.com/2022/11/how-effective-is-william-macaskills-altruism/

A takeaway owner is offering to give everyone in Edinburgh a free pizza over the next month as an act of kindness.

Marc Wilkinson, 55, the owner of Pure Pizza in Morningside, said he had been planning a big altruistic act to help people struggling with the cost of living crisis.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-64126998

Is it truly altruistic if he's publicising it?

They will only need to provide a valid mobile number.

Hey, remember that free pizza you got a month ago?
Here's a two for one if you spend over £10 :)