Executive summary: The drowning child argument demonstrates that we have a moral obligation to donate significantly to effective charities, as failing to do so is equivalent to ignoring a drowning child we could easily save.
Key points:
The drowning child scenario shows we should sacrifice money to save a life when the cost is comparatively small.
Donating to effective charities that save lives for a few thousand dollars each is morally equivalent to saving a drowning child.
Common objections like proximity, special obligations, or others’ inaction do not negate our duty to save lives through charity.
While we may not be obligated to give everything, we should make charitable giving a significant part of our lives.
Spending on luxuries is hard to justify when that money could save children’s lives.
Recommended action: Take the Giving What We Can pledge or donate to GiveWell charities.
This comment was auto-generated by the EA Forum Team. Feel free to point out issues with this summary by replying to the comment, andcontact us if you have feedback.
Executive summary: The drowning child argument demonstrates that we have a moral obligation to donate significantly to effective charities, as failing to do so is equivalent to ignoring a drowning child we could easily save.
Key points:
The drowning child scenario shows we should sacrifice money to save a life when the cost is comparatively small.
Donating to effective charities that save lives for a few thousand dollars each is morally equivalent to saving a drowning child.
Common objections like proximity, special obligations, or others’ inaction do not negate our duty to save lives through charity.
While we may not be obligated to give everything, we should make charitable giving a significant part of our lives.
Spending on luxuries is hard to justify when that money could save children’s lives.
Recommended action: Take the Giving What We Can pledge or donate to GiveWell charities.
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.