Discussion Group 2 - South Hills

This month, in anticipation of next month’s PFC roundtable event, I would like to focus on the concept of effective altruism. Our roundtables have generally attracted many of our long-time members from all areas of the city. I hope that by holding a smaller discussion in advance, we can preemptively strategize the best directions for that conversation to take, as well as give more of our members additional time to voice their opinions on this important topic.

Effective altruism can be defined as a movement or philosophy that seeks to use science and reason to maximize the amount of good that can be done through charitable actions. While the intentions of those involved are generally aligned, they can result in a variety of actions depending on interpretation of data and personal philosophy. As humanists, we know that it’s easy to define goals and much harder to effectively work toward those goals.

This movement is essentially an offshoot of utilitarianism, and as such, it can be a powerful implement or good intentions, or it can devolve into an illogical system that contradicts its original purpose. There are variances between big-picture and small-picture approaches, and disputes as to which of these is which in practice. We must consider differing interpretations of data, and those who might favor a philosophical approach over a data-driven one. Keeping these things in mind, it seems that there are at least three levels on which we can act altruistically, and a scale of effectiveness that covers a large variance.

On a personal level, we can all individually be charitable, giving what we have available to us to help improve society. Philosopher Peter Singer has established a charity organization which seeks to find the most cost effective methods of helping impoverished people around the world. A good basic action and first step in effective altruism is to give within our means to such an organization.

There is more that we in PFC can do though, since we already strive to be a helpful organization. We can work with other groups, help improve things like public education and awareness, take action on civic issues, and be active in promoting a healthy government. These things, if done efficiently, can also have an enormous positive impact on society.

Obviously everyone would like to see results, and yet we still struggle to come to much of a consensus on how they should be accomplished. We can say we want a scientific and reasonable method, but we still have to effectively apply that method. Some of the questions we face might still be philosophical. We need to have a discussion about our concepts of utilitarianism, and what we want the future of technology, government, and the economy to look like. There are arguments to be made for many efforts to preserve our species from threats spanning from poverty to existential threats like nuclear war. I think we should use this opportunity to reach a consensus on some ways that PFC can increase the impact of our intentions and actions.

Links:
https://nonprofitquarterly.org/2018/06/05/effective-altruism-new-movement-another-failed-philanthropic-proposition-repurposed/

How can effective altruism stay curious? - Will MacAskill
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oo7B7W4QJMc

The why and how of effective altruism - Peter Singer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Diuv3XZQXyc