Being Good in a World of Need by Larry S. Temkin;

Author:Larry S. Temkin; [Temkin, Larry S.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780192666994
Publisher: OxfordUP
Published: 2021-11-26T00:00:00+00:00

9.4 An Effective Altruist’s Response and Some Reasons to Take It with a Grain of Salt

In this section, I would like to consider, and briefly respond, to a view that is common within the Effective Altruist community. In essence, the view accepts this chapter’s arguments as relevant to many international aid organizations and their projects, but it denies that they apply to the most effective international aid organizations and their projects. This view is put nicely by Nick Beckstead, who writes:

I agree with this [the arguments of Chapter 9] as stated, but I have different thoughts about most international aid versus GiveWell’s top charities. Consider especially the Against Malaria Foundation:

1. 22 RCTs [random control trials], presumably in many different countries, showing the efficacy of the program.

2. Specific, highly-validated mechanism of action.

3. Limited scope for variation in how instructions for implementation of the program are understood by those implementing the program.

4. Inspections collecting data on delivery and proper installation of bed nets, with linkup to well-validated mechanism of action.

5. Country-wide rollouts of bed nets; bed nets generally associated in mainstream history of malaria with global decline in disease burden.

6. Not implemented by governments.

7. Single-purpose charitable organization—all funds go to bed net rollout.

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