Making Sense with Sam Harris #228 — Doing Good
Dec 14, 2020
Will MacAskill, a philosopher and co-founder of Giving What We Can, dives into the effective altruism movement and how to maximize charitable giving. He discusses the ethics of philanthropy and the balance between wealth and generosity. The conversation critiques initiatives like the Play Pump, emphasizing the need for local insight. MacAskill also explores long-term giving, career choices that enhance altruism, and the significance of emotional connections in charitable actions, urging a systematic approach to doing good.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
PlayPump Failure
- The PlayPump, despite media attention, failed due to flawed design and lack of community input.
- It illustrates the disconnect between fundraising success and program effectiveness.
Perverse Incentives in Charity
- Charities, unlike businesses, lack incentives to shut down even after achieving goals.
- This is due to a disconnect between beneficiaries and those who fund charities.
Automate Charitable Giving
- Automate giving to effective charities, detaching it from daily emotional fluctuations.
- This ensures consistent positive impact regardless of personal feelings.
