Effective Altruism Introduction Course
This guide explores the philosophy and practice of Effective Altruism (EA) and includes self-assessment elements to help you reflect on how EA principles might align with your own values and approach to creating positive change.
What Is Effective Altruism?
At its core, effective altruism combines empathy (caring about others' wellbeing) with analytical thinking (using evidence to determine the most effective ways to help).
At its core, effective altruism combines empathy (caring about others' wellbeing) with analytical thinking (using evidence to determine the most effective ways to help).
Key Characteristics of Effective Altruism:
- Consequentialist ApproachEA evaluates actions based on their outcomes rather than intentions. The question is not "Does this feel good?" but "How much good does this actually accomplish?"
- Impartial ConcernEA typically considers all lives to have equal moral worth, regardless of nationality, proximity, species, or temporal location (present vs. future).
- Cause PrioritizationGiven limited resources, EA seeks to identify which causes we should focus on to create the greatest positive impact.
- BrandingEA relies on data, research, and rigorous analysis to guide decisions, rather than intuition or convention.
A Concrete Example
A person earning a typical income in a high-income country who donates 10% of their salary to the Against Malaria Foundation (roughly $5,500 per life saved) could save dozens of lives over their career. This demonstrates how ordinary individuals can have extraordinary impact through strategic choices.
"Effective altruism is about asking: 'How can I do the most good?' — and using evidence and careful reasoning to try to answer that question."
— William MacAskill, co-founder of effective altruism
The main goal of effective altruism is:
To use evidence and reason to help others as much as possible.
Because resources like time and money are limited, effective altruism focuses on using evidence and careful reasoning to identify which actions help the most — rather than relying on emotion or tradition. It's not about doing some good, but the most good we can.
Because resources like time and money are limited, effective altruism focuses on using evidence and careful reasoning to identify which actions help the most — rather than relying on emotion or tradition. It's not about doing some good, but the most good we can.
Origins and Development of EA
Effective altruism emerged as a distinct movement around 2009-2011, growing from academic work in philosophy, economics, and other fields at Oxford University. Key founding figures include philosopher Peter Singer, who had long argued for more effective charitable giving, and Oxford philosophers Toby Ord and William MacAskill.
Effective altruism emerged as a distinct movement around 2009-2011, growing from academic work in philosophy, economics, and other fields at Oxford University. Key founding figures include philosopher Peter Singer, who had long argued for more effective charitable giving, and Oxford philosophers Toby Ord and William MacAskill.
Timeline of EA Development:
2009
Toby Ord co-founds Giving What We Can, encouraging people to pledge 10% of their income to effective charities
2011
William MacAskill and others establish 80,000 Hours for career advice; the term "effective altruism" is coined
2012
The Centre for Effective Altruism is founded to coordinate the growing movement
2013
First EA Global conference brings together 100+ participants
2014 - present
Rapid expansion with major funding, academic recognition, and global reach
Although relatively young as a movement, EA's underlying principles draw on philosophical traditions spanning centuries, from utilitarian philosophers like Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill to modern development economists and public health researchers.
The Vast Differences in Effectiveness
One of the most striking insights from EA research is that interventions aiming to do good can vary by orders of magnitude in their effectiveness. This isn't just a small difference—some approaches to helping others can be hundreds or even thousands of times more effective than others.
This means that choosing carefully between interventions is not merely an academic exercise—it can dramatically increase your positive impact in the world.
One of the most striking insights from EA research is that interventions aiming to do good can vary by orders of magnitude in their effectiveness. This isn't just a small difference—some approaches to helping others can be hundreds or even thousands of times more effective than others.
This means that choosing carefully between interventions is not merely an academic exercise—it can dramatically increase your positive impact in the world.
Global Health Interventions
The cost to save a life through different health interventions varies dramatically
- Malaria prevention (AMF): ~$5,500 per life saved
- Tuberculosis treatment: ~$20,000-$30,000 per life saved
- Advanced cancer treatments in high-income countries: $500,000+ per life saved
Education Interventions
The cost to improve educational outcomes varies significantly
- Deworming programs: ~$10 per additional year of schooling
- Educational software: ~$1,000+ per equivalent year of schooling
- Reducing class sizes: ~$15,000+ per equivalent year of schooling
HIV Prevention
Educating high-risk groups to prevent HIV can be up to 1,400 times more effective than certain surgical treatments, as measured by quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) gained per dollar spent
These dramatic differences exist because:
- Some problems affect vastly more individuals than others
- Some interventions have strong evidence of effectiveness while others have limited or negative evidence
- Diminishing returns mean that neglected problems often have more cost-effective solutions
- Geographic and economic differences create large disparities in purchasing power and implementation costs
Most donors are unaware of these effectiveness differences and base giving decisions on emotional appeal, marketing, or personal connection to causes—potentially resulting in missed opportunities to create significantly more positive impact.
EA organizations like GiveWell, Charity Entrepreneurship, and Animal Charity Evaluators specialize in comparing intervention effectiveness to identify the highest-impact opportunities within their focus areas.
EA organizations like GiveWell, Charity Entrepreneurship, and Animal Charity Evaluators specialize in comparing intervention effectiveness to identify the highest-impact opportunities within their focus areas.
Comparing interventions is important in effective altruism
Because some interventions are vastly more effective than others
Comparing interventions helps us discover that some ways of helping — like distributing malaria nets — can be hundreds of times more effective than others. Without comparing, we might invest in well-meaning efforts that save fewer lives or reduce less suffering.
Comparing interventions helps us discover that some ways of helping — like distributing malaria nets — can be hundreds of times more effective than others. Without comparing, we might invest in well-meaning efforts that save fewer lives or reduce less suffering.
Choosing the Right Cause
Given limited resources, one of the most impactful decisions is selecting which problems to work on. Effective altruists use a framework to evaluate and compare causes based on three key dimensions:
Given limited resources, one of the most impactful decisions is selecting which problems to work on. Effective altruists use a framework to evaluate and compare causes based on three key dimensions:
The Scale-Neglectedness-Tractability Framework
Scale
How many individuals does this problem affect, and how deeply? Scale considerations include the number of beings affected, the duration of effects, and their intensity
Neglectedness
How many resources are already being dedicated to addressing this problem? Neglected problems often have more cost-effective solutions due to diminishing returns
Tractability
How solvable is the problem? Are there promising interventions that could make progress? Tractability involves having clear metrics for success and evidence-based interventions
Based on this framework, the EA community has identified several cause areas that score particularly well. Note that there's ongoing debate about the relative priority of these areas.
Major EA Cause Areas
- Global Health and DevelopmentFocusing on improving health and economic outcomes for the global poor. Includes interventions like malaria prevention, deworming, direct cash transfers, and vaccination programs.
Example impact: GiveWell's top charities have distributed over 150 million insecticide-treated nets, delivered over 300 million treatments against parasitic worms, and transferred hundreds of millions of dollars directly to people living in extreme poverty. - Animal WelfareWorking to reduce the suffering of animals, particularly in factory farming where billions of animals experience severe confinement and suffering. Includes corporate campaigns, research into meat alternatives, and advocacy for welfare reforms.
Example impact: Animal advocacy groups have secured corporate commitments affecting hundreds of millions of chickens, improving conditions through cage-free and higher welfare standards. - Existential Risk ReductionSafeguarding humanity's long-term future by reducing risks that could cause human extinction or permanent civilizational collapse. Focus areas include AI safety, biosecurity, nuclear security, and climate change.
Example impact: EA funding has established multiple research institutes focused on AI alignment and biosecurity, and has supported policy development for emerging technologies. - Improving Institutional Decision-MakingEnhancing the quality of decision-making in important institutions like governments and large corporations, through forecasting, decision markets, improving epistemics, and promoting evidence-based policy.
Example impact: Development of prediction markets and expert forecasting systems that have improved the accuracy of predictions in various domains.
Applying EA Principles: Practical Case Studies
To make EA concepts more concrete, here are brief case studies showing how EA principles are applied in real decision-making
Using the Scale-Neglectedness-Tractability Framework
Case Study
AI Safety Research
- Scale: Advanced AI could pose existential risks affecting all future generations, or conversely help solve many global problems
- Neglectedness: Historically very few resources dedicated to AI safety relative to capabilities development
- Tractability: Complex challenge, but research into alignment techniques and governance can make meaningful progress
- EA Conclusion: High priority despite uncertainty, because enormous scale × high neglectedness = high expected value
Case Study
Corporate Animal Welfare Campaigns
- Scale: Billions of animals in factory farms experiencing severe suffering
- Neglectedness: Very low philanthropic funding relative to number of animals affected
- Tractability: Corporate campaigns have successfully achieved cage-free commitments affecting hundreds of millions of animals
- EA Conclusion: Highly cost-effective intervention with proven track record
Opportunity Cost in Practice
Career Decision Example
An individual considering becoming a doctor in a developed country would also consider:
- Alternative 1: AI safety researcher (if they have the aptitude and AI safety is deemed higher priority)
- Alternative 2: High-earning career to fund multiple doctors in low-income countries through donations
- EA Analysis: The opportunity cost includes not just the direct impact foregone, but the alternative impacts possible with the same time and skills
Donation Decision Example
Someone with $100 to donate considers:
- Local animal shelter (positive but limited impact)
- GiveWell top charity (demonstrably hundreds of times more cost-effective at saving lives)
- EA Analysis: The opportunity cost of the local donation is the additional lives that could have been saved through the more effective option
Expected Value Under Uncertainty
Research Project Example
Funding a project to reduce existential risk:
- 1% chance of major breakthrough reducing risk significantly (enormous value)
- 20% chance of useful insights (moderate value)
- 79% chance of minimal results (low value)
- EA Analysis: Even with low probability of success, the enormous potential value makes the expected value very high
Historical popularity is NOT a criterion in the EA cause selection framework.
Effective altruism prioritizes causes based on scale (how big the problem is), neglectedness (how few resources are going toward it), and tractability (how solvable it is). Historical popularity isn't part of the framework — a cause being well-known doesn't mean it's the most impactful to work on.
Effective altruism prioritizes causes based on scale (how big the problem is), neglectedness (how few resources are going toward it), and tractability (how solvable it is). Historical popularity isn't part of the framework — a cause being well-known doesn't mean it's the most impactful to work on.
The EA Ecosystem: Organizations & Publications
Effective altruism has grown from philosophical discussions at Oxford University into a global movement with dedicated organizations, substantial funding, and an expanding body of research.
Here's an overview of the key components of the EA ecosystem:
Major EA Organizations:
Here's an overview of the key components of the EA ecosystem:
Major EA Organizations:
Organization (year founded)
Primary focus
Website
Animal Charity Evaluators (2012)
Charity Evaluation (Animal Welfare)
Charity Entrepreneurship (2018)
Charity Incubation, Entrepreneurship
Effective Institutions Project (2020)
Institutional Decision Strategy
Effective Altruism Communities Around the World
Key EA Books & Publications
- The Precipice (2020) by Toby Ord
Explores existential risks facing humanity and argues we're living in a critical period ("the precipice") where our decisions could determine whether humanity reaches its potential or faces extinction. Ord systematically analyzes different risks—from nuclear war and climate change to artificial intelligence and engineered pandemics—and proposes strategies for safeguarding humanity's future. - What We Owe The Future (2022) by William MacAskillMakes the case for "longtermism"—the view that positively influencing the long-term future is a key moral priority of our time. MacAskill argues that future generations matter morally, their quality of life depends on our actions today, and there are concrete ways to improve their prospects.
- Doing Good Better (2015) by William MacAskill
An introduction to effective altruism that examines how evidence and reasoning can be used to maximize the impact of charitable activities. MacAskill introduces concepts like counterfactual reasoning, expected value, and the importance of cause selection, illustrating how these approaches can dramatically increase one's positive impact. - The Life You Can Save (2009, updated 2019) by Peter SingerMakes the ethical case for why affluent people should donate more to address global poverty. Singer argues that if we can prevent suffering without sacrificing anything of comparable moral importance, we ought to do so. The book includes practical recommendations for effective giving and has inspired thousands to donate more effectively.
EA Movement Statistics
Global Reach
- 7,000+ highly engaged participants (as of 2022)
- Local groups in 70+ countries across 6 continents
- EA Global conferences attended by 1,000+ participants annually
- EA Forum with 15,000+ registered users
Impact Metrics
- GiveWell: Has directed over $2.4 billion in donations, projected to save over 270,000 lives
- Open Philanthropy: Has made over $4 billion in public grants as of March 2025
- 80,000 Hours: Has influenced over 3,000 significant career plan changes
- Giving What We Can: 9,807+ members have donated over $310 million through pledges
- Charity Entrepreneurship: Has launched 50 charities serving 35 million people and 1 billion animals
- Against Malaria Foundation: Has funded distribution of 342+ million nets, protecting 616+ million people
The EA community continues to grow, with increasing geographic diversity and influence across academic disciplines, technology, finance, and policy. While still a relatively small movement compared to many established causes, EA has had an outsized impact due to its focus on effectiveness, substantial funding commitments, and growing network of researchers and practitioners dedicated to doing the most good possible.
The Heritage Foundation is NOT part of EA community
The Heritage Foundation is a conservative think tank that is not aligned with EA principles or part of the EA community. All the other organizations listed are explicitly EA-aligned and focus on using evidence and reason to maximize positive impact.
The Heritage Foundation is a conservative think tank that is not aligned with EA principles or part of the EA community. All the other organizations listed are explicitly EA-aligned and focus on using evidence and reason to maximize positive impact.
Common Questions and Criticisms
As EA has grown, it has attracted both support and criticism. Understanding these perspectives can help you think more clearly about EA's strengths and limitations:
"Isn't EA too cold and calculating?"
The criticism
EA reduces complex moral questions to numbers and ignores the emotional, personal aspects of helping others.
EA reduces complex moral questions to numbers and ignores the emotional, personal aspects of helping others.
EA response
EA doesn't dismiss emotion or personal connection—it channels them more effectively. The goal isn't to be cold, but to ensure our compassion translates into the greatest possible reduction in suffering. Many EAs are deeply motivated by empathy but use analytical tools to maximize their positive impact.
EA doesn't dismiss emotion or personal connection—it channels them more effectively. The goal isn't to be cold, but to ensure our compassion translates into the greatest possible reduction in suffering. Many EAs are deeply motivated by empathy but use analytical tools to maximize their positive impact.
"Does EA only appeal to privileged people?"
The criticism
EA's focus on optimization and career advice seems primarily relevant to educated, wealthy individuals from developed countries.
EA's focus on optimization and career advice seems primarily relevant to educated, wealthy individuals from developed countries.
EA response
While many visible EAs come from privileged backgrounds, the movement increasingly includes diverse voices and recognizes different ways to contribute. EA principles apply at any income level—whether donating $10 or $10,000, the same logic of effectiveness applies. The movement also supports direct work and community building, not just earning to give.
While many visible EAs come from privileged backgrounds, the movement increasingly includes diverse voices and recognizes different ways to contribute. EA principles apply at any income level—whether donating $10 or $10,000, the same logic of effectiveness applies. The movement also supports direct work and community building, not just earning to give.
"Can we really measure and compare different types of good?"
The criticism
Comparing lives saved versus animal welfare improvements versus existential risk reduction seems impossible and potentially harmful.
Comparing lives saved versus animal welfare improvements versus existential risk reduction seems impossible and potentially harmful.
EA response
EA acknowledges deep uncertainty while still making the best decisions possible with available information. The alternative—not comparing at all—implicitly treats all interventions as equally effective, which evidence shows is far from true. EA emphasizes expected value reasoning and explicitly discusses moral uncertainty.
EA acknowledges deep uncertainty while still making the best decisions possible with available information. The alternative—not comparing at all—implicitly treats all interventions as equally effective, which evidence shows is far from true. EA emphasizes expected value reasoning and explicitly discusses moral uncertainty.
How You Can Contribute
Effective altruism offers multiple paths for individuals to have a significant positive impact. The appropriate approach depends on your skills, resources, constraints, and values. Here are the primary ways people contribute to EA causes:
Career Choice
Your career is likely your most significant opportunity for impact, representing approximately 80,000 hours of your life. EA approaches to career choice include:
- Working directly on pressing problems (e.g., AI safety research, pandemic prevention, global health economics)
- Building career capital in areas with high impact potential (e.g., policy, research, management)
- "Earning to give" – taking a high-earning job to donate substantially to effective organizations
Real examples of high-impact career transitions:
Organizations like 80,000 Hours provide career advice and job boards focused on high-impact opportunities.
- Software engineer → AI alignment researcher
- Consultant → pandemic preparedness policy analyst
- Finance professional → alternative protein startup founder
- Academic researcher → charity evaluator
Organizations like 80,000 Hours provide career advice and job boards focused on high-impact opportunities.
Effective Giving
Donating to highly effective organizations can have substantial impact. EA approaches to giving include:
- Giving to organizations recommended by evaluators like GiveWell or Animal Charity Evaluators
- Taking the Giving What We Can pledge (10% of income for life)
- Participating in donor lotteries to pool resources for greater impact
- Considering meta-charities that build the effective altruism movement
Even modest donations, when directed effectively, can have substantial impact. For instance, a donation of just $5 to the Against Malaria Foundation can provide a long-lasting insecticide-treated bednet, protecting two people from malaria for up to three years. While it takes many such nets to save a life, this illustrates how even a small amount directly contributes to preventing illness and improving health outcomes in a highly cost-effective way.
Community & Movement Building
Helping grow and strengthen the EA community can have substantial leverage by influencing others. Approaches include:
- Starting or contributing to local EA groups
- Organizing events to share EA ideas and connect community members
- Contributing to EA forums and online discussions
- Mentoring others interested in having a positive impact
The EA community is active in 70+ countries with university groups, local meetups, and online forums.
Research & Information
Contributing to knowledge about how to do the most good. Approaches include:
- Conducting research at EA-aligned organizations
- Contributing to cause prioritization
- Evaluating interventions and organizations
- Translating complex research for wider audiences
Organizations like Rethink Priorities, GPI, and independent researchers contribute to the growing body of EA research.
Real-World Examples
-
High-Impact Career ShiftsThousands of people have changed career paths based on EA principles. Examples include technical researchers redirecting skills toward AI safety, policy experts focusing on pandemic preparedness, and business professionals applying their expertise to effective non-profits. -
Giving What We CanOver 8,000 people have taken the Giving What We Can pledge, committing to donate at least 10% of their income to effective organizations. These pledges represent over $3 billion in anticipated lifetime donations. -
Community GrowthLocal EA groups have introduced the ideas to new regions and professional communities, with university groups at institutions worldwide and city groups in major metropolitan areas across 6 continents.
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