VIDEO
HIGHLIGHT
Log InSign up
Peter Singer: The why and how of effective altruism
SummaryTranscriptChat

Peter Singer: The why and how of effective altruism

The Tragic Story of Wang Yue and Its Implications

Introduction to the Incident

  • A two-year-old girl, Wang Yue, was hit by a van in China, leaving her severely injured on the street while passersby ignored her.
  • The driver paused after hitting her, and within two minutes, three people walked past without offering help. A second van subsequently ran over her legs.

Reflection on Human Behavior

  • Peter Singer prompts the audience to consider their own reactions to such incidents and highlights that many believe they would intervene.
  • UNICEF reports 6.9 million children under five died from preventable diseases in 2011, emphasizing that distance or nationality should not diminish our moral responsibility.

Effective Altruism as a Solution

  • Singer advocates for redirecting personal spending on non-essential items towards effective charities like the Against Malaria Foundation.
  • He introduces "effective altruism," which combines empathy with rational decision-making to maximize positive impact on global suffering.

Understanding Effective Altruism

The Role of Reason in Altruism

  • Reason helps us recognize shared humanity and suffering across different cultures and backgrounds.
  • Many influential figures in effective altruism have backgrounds in philosophy or economics, challenging stereotypes about these fields being disconnected from real-world issues.

Impact of Philanthropy

  • Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation exemplifies effective altruism with its mission that "all lives have equal value."
  • The Gates Foundation has reportedly saved 5.8 million lives through strategic charitable giving, showcasing how intelligence can enhance philanthropic efforts.

Individual Contributions to Global Change

Personal Commitment to Giving

  • Toby Ord illustrates that individuals can make significant contributions; he pledged a portion of his income to combat blindness in developing countries.

Effective Altruism: Making a Difference

The Concept of Effective Altruism

  • Individuals are encouraged to live modestly and contribute time and money to combat global poverty.
  • Will Crouch, a philosophy graduate student, promotes the idea that careers in banking or finance can lead to significant charitable contributions if one earns well.

Career Choices for Impact

  • Matt Weiger, a Princeton graduate, chose finance to donate six figures to effective charities while maintaining his living expenses.
  • The organization "The Life You Can Save" aims to shift cultural perceptions about ethical living beyond mere avoidance of wrongdoing.

Evaluating Charitable Effectiveness

  • Toby Ord emphasizes the importance of identifying effective charities, as some are vastly more impactful than others.
  • A comparison illustrates that providing guide dogs is less effective than curing blindness in developing countries due to cost differences.

Resources for Finding Effective Charities

  • Websites like GiveWell assess charity effectiveness and recommend top organizations such as the Against Malaria Foundation.
  • Other resources include thelifeyoucansave.com and Giving What We Can for broader lists of effective charities.

Addressing Animal Welfare and Existential Risks

  • Effective altruists also focus on reducing animal suffering through organizations dedicated to this cause.
  • Some advocate for research into preventing human extinction by addressing risks like asteroid impacts.

Personal Fulfillment Through Giving

  • Many individuals find joy in giving; Charlie Bresler views saving lives as saving his own life.
  • Holly Morgan shares her experience with depression improving after engaging with effective altruism.

Overcoming Consumer Lifestyle Challenges

The Meaning of Effective Altruism

The Search for Fulfillment

  • The speaker discusses the lack of satisfaction in life and how becoming an effective altruist can provide meaning and fulfillment.
  • Effective altruism is presented as a foundation for self-esteem, allowing individuals to feel their lives are worthwhile.

A Personal Story: Chris Croy's Donation

  • The speaker shares an email from Chris Croy, who anonymously donated his kidney to a stranger, initiating a kidney chain that helped four people receive kidneys.
  • Chris mentions being influenced by the speaker's writings, which prompts mixed feelings in the speaker due to still having two kidneys.

Impact of Donations

  • Chris calculated that his donation added life-years equivalent to what could be achieved with a $5,000 donation to the Against Malaria Foundation.
Channel: TED
Video description

If you're lucky enough to live without want, it's a natural impulse to help others in need. But, asks philosopher Peter Singer, what's the most effective way to give charitably? He talks through some surprising thought experiments to help you balance emotion and practicality -- and make the biggest impact with whatever you can share. TEDTalks is a daily video podcast of the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less). Look for talks on Technology, Entertainment and Design -- plus science, business, global issues, the arts and much more. Find closed captions and translated subtitles in many languages at http://www.ted.com/translate Follow TED news on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/tednews Like TED on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TED Subscribe to our channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/TEDtalksDirector