I think creating distinctions between directly causing harm vs allowing harm to be caused is likely to reduce a person’s effectiveness at doing good in the world. I think causing harm in an abstract way that doesn’t violate social norms is basically OK if it leads to something more good. For instance, if I advocate to a funder to cut funding to a less effective program and use that funding for a more effective program, I am causing harm to the recipients of the program that got cut. I think that’s fine and a good thing to do.
I think creating distinctions between directly causing harm vs allowing harm to be caused is likely to reduce a person’s effectiveness at doing good in the world. I think causing harm in an abstract way that doesn’t violate social norms is basically OK if it leads to something more good. For instance, if I advocate to a funder to cut funding to a less effective program and use that funding for a more effective program, I am causing harm to the recipients of the program that got cut. I think that’s fine and a good thing to do.