effective altruism

English

Noun

effective altruism (uncountable)

1. (ethics, philosophy) A philosophy and social movement that advocates the use of evidence and reasoning to determine the most effective ways to benefit others.

   Synonym: (initialism) EA

   • 2022 December 9, Jennifer Szalai, “Effective Altruism Warned of Risks. Did It Also Incentivize Them?”, in The New York Times‎^[1]:

     This is the language of effective altruism — or E.A. — a philanthropic movement premised on the use of reason and data to do good. Bankman-Fried had long flaunted his E.A. bona fides to distinguish himself from other crypto billionaires.

   • 2023 January 25, Thomas Chatterton Williams, “The People Who Don’t Read Books”, in The Atlantic‎^[2]:

     He is a supposedly serious young man who was celebrated in the corridors of power not only as a financial savant but also—through his highly publicized philanthropy and conspicuous association with the “effective altruism” movement—as a moral genius.

Related terms

• effective altruist

 

See also

• effective accelerationism (not to be confused)