Peter Singer: The why and how of effective altruism

Summary

The video script recounts a tragic incident in China, where a toddler was hit by a van and ignored by passersby, highlighting the moral challenge of bystander apathy. It transitions to discuss global issues like child mortality from poverty-related diseases and introduces the concept of 'effective altruism', urging individuals to donate to highly impactful charities like the Against Malaria Foundation. The talk emphasizes the power of reasoned empathy and strategic giving to make a significant difference in the world, citing examples of individuals and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation who have profoundly impacted lives through thoughtful philanthropy.

Takeaways

• 😢 The script recounts a tragic incident in China where a two-year-old girl named Wang Yue was hit by a van and ignored by passersby, highlighting a societal indifference that led to her death.
• 🔍 It raises a moral question about the difference between ignoring a child in need in person versus those dying from preventable diseases far away, suggesting that distance and visibility should not affect our moral obligations.
• 💡 Peter Singer introduces the concept of effective altruism, urging individuals to use both their heart and head to make a difference by donating to effective charities rather than spending on unnecessary items.
• 🌟 The Against Malaria Foundation is highlighted as an organization that efficiently uses donations to save lives by providing life-saving malaria nets to children in developing countries.
• 📉 UNICEF data is cited to show the significant reduction in child mortality rates from 12 million in 1990 to 6.9 million in 2011, emphasizing that progress is being made but there is still much work to be done.
• 🤔 The script challenges the audience to consider their own potential impact, asking if they would have helped Wang Yue and encouraging them to reflect on how they can help in other ways.
• 💼 The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is presented as an example of effective altruism on a grand scale, with its mission to save lives through intelligent philanthropy.
• 💰 The script discusses the power of individual giving, suggesting that even without being a billionaire, one can make a significant impact through thoughtful donations and lifestyle choices.
• 🤝 The importance of community in effective altruism is underscored, with examples of individuals like Toby Ord and organizations like Giving What We Can that encourage collective action for greater impact.
• 📚 The role of reason and critical thinking in choosing careers and charitable actions that maximize positive impact is emphasized, with a nod to those with backgrounds in philosophy, economics, and math.
• 🌱 The script concludes with a call to action, suggesting that effective altruism can provide a sense of fulfillment and purpose, moving beyond the materialistic treadmill to a life of meaningful contribution.

Q & A

What incident deeply unsettled millions in China and was captured on camera?

A two-year-old girl named Wang Yue was hit by a van and left bleeding in the street by passersby, with the entire accident caught on camera.

What was the driver's reaction after hitting the child in the video?

The driver paused after hitting the child, with his back wheels resting on her for over a second.

How many people passed by Wang Yue within two minutes after the accident?

Within two minutes, three people passed by the injured Wang Yue.

What happened to Wang Yue after the second van ran over her legs?

A street cleaner raised the alarm, and she was rushed to the hospital, but it was too late, and she died.

According to Peter Singer, what is the morally relevant difference between helping a child in the street and helping distant children dying from poverty-related diseases?

Peter Singer argues that the physical distance, nationality, or race of the children does not make a morally relevant difference; what is important is whether we can reduce the death toll and save lives.

How many children under five died from preventable, poverty-related diseases in 2011 according to UNICEF?

UNICEF reported that 6.9 million children under five died from preventable, poverty-related diseases in 2011.

What organization does the speaker suggest donating to in order to help reduce child mortality from malaria?

The speaker suggests donating to the Against Malaria Foundation to help reduce child mortality from malaria.

What is the concept of 'effective altruism' as discussed in the script?

Effective altruism is a growing movement that combines empathy (the heart) and rational thinking (the head) to ensure that charitable actions are effective, well-directed, and aimed at making a significant positive impact.

What is the estimated number of lives saved by the Gates Foundation according to the speaker?

According to the speaker, the Gates Foundation has saved an estimated 5.8 million lives.

What is the main purpose of the organization 'Giving What We Can' founded by Toby Ord?

The main purpose of 'Giving What We Can' is to unite people who want to share a percentage of their income to fight global poverty and to encourage them to pledge to give 10 percent of what they earn over their lifetime to effective charities.

What career advice does Will Crouch's website '80,000 Hours' offer for those wanting to have a significant positive impact on the world?

Will Crouch's '80,000 Hours' advises people on how to have the most effective career, suggesting that careers in banking or finance can be impactful if the money earned is donated to effective aid organizations.

How much money does it cost to train a guide dog for a blind person compared to curing blindness in a developing country through trachoma treatment?

It costs about $40,000 to train a guide dog and train the recipient, whereas it costs between $20 and $50 to cure a blind person in a developing country with trachoma.

What are some of the websites recommended in the script for finding effective charities?

The script recommends websites like GiveWell, thelifeyoucansave.com, and Giving What We Can to find effective charities.

What is the 'Sisyphus problem' mentioned by the speaker, and how does effective altruism help overcome it?

The 'Sisyphus problem' refers to the never-ending cycle of working hard to earn money and then spending it on consumer goods in pursuit of happiness, which is likened to the myth of Sisyphus. Effective altruism helps overcome this by providing a meaningful purpose and fulfillment through making a significant positive impact on the world.

What did Chris Croy do that was influenced by the speaker's writings, and how does he relate his action to donating money to the Against Malaria Foundation?

Chris Croy anonymously donated his right kidney to a stranger, which started a kidney chain enabling four people to receive kidneys. He related his action to donating money to the Against Malaria Foundation by calculating that the life-years added by his donation was similar to the impact of donating $5,000 to the foundation.