In his TED talk, philosopher William MacAskill presents the core ideas of Effective Altruism, a movement dedicated to using evidence and reason to figure out how to do the most good. MacAskill explains that due to the dramatic progress brought about by the Scientific and Industrial Revolutions, we now have an unprecedented ability to improve the world. And yet, our ethical thinking hasn't kept pace.
He introduces a framework for prioritizing global problems based on their scale, neglectedness, and solvability. Using this lens, he presents the three cause areas he finds particularly promising: global health, factory farming, and existential risks.
Throughout, MacAskill grounds abstract ideas in concrete examples and offers practical suggestions for how anyone can contribute to these important causes through their donations, career choice, and political engagement. For an accessible introduction to Effective Altruism, this talk is an excellent resource.
