Executive summary: This impassioned appeal argues that affluent individuals, particularly those in the West, have strong moral reasons—both secular and religious—to donate to highly effective charities like those recommended by GiveWell, which can prevent the tragic, yet easily preventable, deaths of children from malaria at low personal cost.
Key points:
Over 1,000 children die daily from malaria—deaths that are easily preventable through cost-effective interventions by charities like the Malaria Consortium and Against Malaria Foundation, with an estimated cost of ~$4,500 per life saved.
The post emphasizes the moral urgency of preventing these deaths, equating them to tragedies that would evoke strong emotional responses if they occurred closer to home.
It appeals to both secular moral reasoning (e.g., the veil of ignorance) and Christian teachings to argue for a duty to help distant strangers.
The author advocates for making charitable giving a major life priority, though not necessarily embracing radical utilitarianism—suggesting that giving should be meaningful enough to cause some personal sacrifice.
The effectiveness of top GiveWell charities is highlighted as a rare opportunity to do immense good with relatively little, urging readers to act now rather than defer moral responsibility.
The article concludes with a call to action: donate to high-impact charities and take seriously the responsibility to alleviate avoidable suffering and death.
This comment was auto-generated by the EA Forum Team. Feel free to point out issues with this summary by replying to the comment, and contact us if you have feedback.
Executive summary: This impassioned appeal argues that affluent individuals, particularly those in the West, have strong moral reasons—both secular and religious—to donate to highly effective charities like those recommended by GiveWell, which can prevent the tragic, yet easily preventable, deaths of children from malaria at low personal cost.
Key points:
Over 1,000 children die daily from malaria—deaths that are easily preventable through cost-effective interventions by charities like the Malaria Consortium and Against Malaria Foundation, with an estimated cost of ~$4,500 per life saved.
The post emphasizes the moral urgency of preventing these deaths, equating them to tragedies that would evoke strong emotional responses if they occurred closer to home.
It appeals to both secular moral reasoning (e.g., the veil of ignorance) and Christian teachings to argue for a duty to help distant strangers.
The author advocates for making charitable giving a major life priority, though not necessarily embracing radical utilitarianism—suggesting that giving should be meaningful enough to cause some personal sacrifice.
The effectiveness of top GiveWell charities is highlighted as a rare opportunity to do immense good with relatively little, urging readers to act now rather than defer moral responsibility.
The article concludes with a call to action: donate to high-impact charities and take seriously the responsibility to alleviate avoidable suffering and death.
This comment was auto-generated by the EA Forum Team. Feel free to point out issues with this summary by replying to the comment, and contact us if you have feedback.