Charities and the most good (part 2)
To conclude, while the idea of supporting charities based purely on maximizing the ‘most good’ is appealing in theory, it fails to consider human motivations and other ethical considerations. A balance between effective altruism and emotional altruism provides a more nuanced approach, ensuring that charitable actions are not only impactful but also sustainable. By allowing people to give based on empathy and personal connection, a long-term engagement and motivation in charitable giving can be found. At the same time, incorporating principles from effective altruism ensures that resources are allocated in ways that reduce suffering for the greatest number of people. Moreover, John Rawls’ theory of justice highlights the importance of fairness in distributing aid. A purely utilitarian approach risks creating an unjust system where some forms of suffering are prioritized over others based on cost- effectiveness alone. Balancing empathy, fairness, and maximal good is key to creating a system that serves both the benefactors and the aided. Ultimately, while one should aim to support charities that do the most good, this does not mean disregarding the emotional and moral dimensions that motivate a person to act. A more just and impactful model would allow benefactors to support causes they empathize with while contributing to a broader, fairer system that maximizes good for all.
Bibliography
Bentham, J. (1907) Introduction to morals and legislation. Oxford. Gandhi, M. (2002) The Essential Gandhi: An Anthology of His Writings on His Life, Work, and Ideas. Edited by Louis Fischer. London. Gates, M. (2019) The Moment of Lift: How Empowering Women Changes the World . New York Hume, D. (1978) A Treatise of Human Nature . Edited by L.A. Selby-Bigge, 2nd ed. Oxford. MacAskill, W. (2015) Doing Good Better: Effective Altruism and a Radical New Way to Make a Difference . London. Rawls, J. (1999) A Theory of Justice . Revised edition. Cambridge, Ma. Singer, P. (2009) The Life You Can Save: Acting Now to End World Poverty. London.
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