Should we select which charities to support purely on the basis of which would do the most good?
Aidan Leung
The question of how to allocate charitable resources raises the debate between effective and emotional altruism, as to which would result in the best outcome for the two actors: the needy and the benefactors. It is important to note that this question encompasses both (potential) benefactors who are supporting charity and people who do not yet. Effective altruism maximize s the ‘most good’, providing the most to the most people, and emotional altruism values personal connections and empathy for the causes that one supports. This essay will argue that although maximizing good is imperative, a pure effective altruistic approach is not sufficient; a balance between the two schools of altruism would yield a better result for all. The ‘most good’ from a charitable perspective could be measured by achieving ‘the greatest happiness of the greatest number’ (Bentham ) and ‘the greatest possible reduction in suffering’(Singer). The ‘most good’ also applies to the benefactors, and the ‘most good’ for them would be to maxim ize their happiness and satisfaction in their charitable actions. Therefore, the metric of evaluation for the ‘most good’ in a charitable action involves the reduction of suffering and harm for the aided, and also the maximization of satisfaction and happiness of the benefactors, in which the charitable organization acts as a medium between the benefactors and those who are aided to achieve the ‘most good’ for the two parties. What does a person consider when supporting a charity? When a person chooses a charity to support, they look at the good the charity creates. Moreover, they are influenced by their culture and religion, their values, and whom they empathize with the most. The specific objective of a charitable action that a person wants to achieve can vary, but by and large they would want to make a positive impact, and through their action want to gain satisfaction and happiness as they have done a moral good. These two goals are crucial, for having the will and being able to derive happiness from charity are the pre- requisites for a person to support a charity. Let’s imagine a hypothetical case of an emotional altruist and an effective altruist. Person A and Person B come from a developed, wealthy, peaceful country. Person A has not supported charity before; they were recently cured of cancer, and decided to donate to the Macmillan Support fund that helps support cancer patients, as they are motivated by their empathies to donate to those undergoing the same hardship as them. Person B has always been giving back to the less fortunate, and although they have a deep personal connection with their community, they decided to donate to Givewell. They believe that ‘all lives have equal value’ (Gates); thus, they choose to support that cause because it creates the ‘most good’ i.e. the most lives that are reduced from suff ering and death, even though Person B has no emotional connection with that torn community.
241
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker