What is Optimal—Working, Donating, or Something Else?
Of course, this is widely believed outside the optimal philanthropy movement. But I think this belief [that in order to do the most good for our fellow humans, we should start/work for/donate to/otherwise become involved in charitable organizations] is inherent in many optimal philanthropy claims
I disagree—I think the only claim true to optimal philanthropy is that we should donate, efficiently and maybe even extensively, to charitable organizations. Whether we start new organizations or work for existing organizations is often not an efficient use of our time, and not what any optimal philanthropy work I think would tell you. Not even 80k hours seems to make this out to be the best career.
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It’s plausible, but if one looks at the total good done over the last thousand years, the vast majority comes from science and various businesses, not popular causes like (back then) “tithe to the church” or (now, from the 80,000 Hours video) “campaigning against climate change”.
I disagree again. I think that yes, a lot of good has come out of science and business. But remember that science needs to be funded, and some of it by private donation. Likewise, a massive amount of benefit has come out of eradicating and lessing disease, which also comes in large part from personal donation.
And even that being said, optimal philanthropy is often about what one can do as an individual. The vast majority of us aren’t able to create the scientific discovery or business that helps millions. Many of us can’t even change jobs. But what we can do is donate a portion of our income, and we can do a lot by ensuring it goes to effective causes.
What is Optimal—Working, Donating, or Something Else?
I disagree—I think the only claim true to optimal philanthropy is that we should donate, efficiently and maybe even extensively, to charitable organizations. Whether we start new organizations or work for existing organizations is often not an efficient use of our time, and not what any optimal philanthropy work I think would tell you. Not even 80k hours seems to make this out to be the best career.
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I disagree again. I think that yes, a lot of good has come out of science and business. But remember that science needs to be funded, and some of it by private donation. Likewise, a massive amount of benefit has come out of eradicating and lessing disease, which also comes in large part from personal donation.
And even that being said, optimal philanthropy is often about what one can do as an individual. The vast majority of us aren’t able to create the scientific discovery or business that helps millions. Many of us can’t even change jobs. But what we can do is donate a portion of our income, and we can do a lot by ensuring it goes to effective causes.