It seems to me as if promoting effective altruism as doing the ‘most good possible’ exists for public relations purposes. For example, if effective altruism had a slogan that was less than doing the most good, and only, like, ‘pretty good’, than other altruistic endeavors could just state that they’re just as pretty good, or slightly better, and than effective altruism loses its footing. I concur that for most individuals doing literally what the most good possible won’t happen.
I’d re-frame our personal goal as at least ‘choosing the best option of those identified, given resources, available attention, time constraints, and not straining ourselves too much’. That’s not a motto Peter Singer can quip at the end of a lecture, but it’s something effective altruists can keep in mind once they’re on board with effective altruism.
It seems to me as if promoting effective altruism as doing the ‘most good possible’ exists for public relations purposes. For example, if effective altruism had a slogan that was less than doing the most good, and only, like, ‘pretty good’, than other altruistic endeavors could just state that they’re just as pretty good, or slightly better, and than effective altruism loses its footing. I concur that for most individuals doing literally what the most good possible won’t happen.
I’d re-frame our personal goal as at least ‘choosing the best option of those identified, given resources, available attention, time constraints, and not straining ourselves too much’. That’s not a motto Peter Singer can quip at the end of a lecture, but it’s something effective altruists can keep in mind once they’re on board with effective altruism.