Introduction
Making a case for a philosophy of giving that I believe is crucial, I argue for “Effective Altruism” or “Thoughtful Giving.” Effective altruism involves donating money to do the best for humanity rather than just addressing immediate individual needs. It’s about maximizing the positive impact of your donations on the well-being of people worldwide.
Effectiveness
In terms of effectiveness, this approach looks beyond the immediate needs of individuals and takes a long-term perspective on making a lasting and meaningful difference for humanity. It also encourages donors to expand their moral concerns beyond their local community to consider the needs of people worldwide. This can involve supporting charities that address global issues like pandemics, climate change, AI mistakes, and threats from asteroids. By taking this global perspective, effective altruism can have a more meaningful impact than just focusing on local needs.
Costs
When it comes to administrative costs, effective altruism emphasizes finding charities and causes that are highly efficient with minimal overhead. This means choosing well-managed organizations with low administrative expenses to maximize the impact of each dollar donated. It also means selecting charities leveraging donations to achieve a broader effect than just the dollar amount given (Greaves & Pummer, 2019). For example, a charity that can provide clean water to a whole village for $1,000 might be a better choice than offering a scholarship to just one student for the same amount.
Conclusion
To wrap it up, embracing effective altruism stands out as the paramount method of contributing because it compels benefactors to contemplate the broader human collective and delve into how their contributions can forge a lasting and profound influence. It fosters efficiency and efficacy in selecting charitable endeavors and prods patrons to confront global challenges and oft-neglected concerns. By adopting this strategy, I am convinced that effective altruism can engender a favorable transformation in the fate of humanity and make a constructive contribution to a brighter, collective destiny.
Reference
Greaves, H., & Pummer, T. (2019). Effective altruism: Philosophical issues. Oxford University Press.