What to read to understand “effective altruism”

How to do more good with one’s time and money is a question that tantalises idealistic minds. Yet few approach the question armed with thorough evidence and reason. “Effective altruism” (ea), a research agenda and a social movement, is an exception. ea’s proponents focus on causes that are both well-known (global health and development) and obscure (rogue artificial intelligence, or ai). This burgeoning community of mostly young people was started about a decade ago by a group of philosophers at Oxford University. A handful of curious and wealthy technologists—such as Sam Bankman-Fried, a crypto-billionaire—have since boosted its influence. Insiders estimate that ea-affiliated organisations and individuals who have committed their net worth to the movement have between $20bn-50bn at their disposal. In 2021 they distributed over $600m to philanthropic causes. Much of the best content about ea, a young and very-online movement, is found not in books but blogs, papers and podcasts. This guide will help you to understand where effective altruism came from, what it stands for, and where it might be headed.