Youâve drawn a good distinction here, and I should revise what I said before.
In my previous comment, I lazily copied the explanation I use to tell people they shouldnât capitalize âeffective altruismâ (âitâs not a religionâ). As you say, it doesnât fit here.
The thing I donât like about applying â-istâ labeling to EA is the addition of âeffectiveâ, which (as many others have said) seems to presume impact in a way that seems a bit arrogant and, more importantly, is really hard to prove.
Are you a pianist? Yes, you play the piano.
Are you a virtue ethicist? Yes, you believe that virtue ethics are correct (or whatever).
Are you an altruist? Yes, you give some of your resources to other people for reasons outside of law, contracts, etc.
Are you a great pianist? âŚmaybe? What defines âgreatâ?
Are you an effective altruist? âŚmaybe? What defines âeffectiveâ? You might hold a bunch of ethical beliefs that lots of other people who use that label also hold, but it seems unclear exactly which set of beliefs is sufficient for the label to fit. (And even if we could settle on some canonical set, the word âeffectiveâ still seems presumptive in a way I donât want to apply to individual people.)
Youâve drawn a good distinction here, and I should revise what I said before.
In my previous comment, I lazily copied the explanation I use to tell people they shouldnât capitalize âeffective altruismâ (âitâs not a religionâ). As you say, it doesnât fit here.
The thing I donât like about applying â-istâ labeling to EA is the addition of âeffectiveâ, which (as many others have said) seems to presume impact in a way that seems a bit arrogant and, more importantly, is really hard to prove.
Are you a pianist? Yes, you play the piano.
Are you a virtue ethicist? Yes, you believe that virtue ethics are correct (or whatever).
Are you an altruist? Yes, you give some of your resources to other people for reasons outside of law, contracts, etc.
Are you a great pianist? âŚmaybe? What defines âgreatâ?
Are you an effective altruist? âŚmaybe? What defines âeffectiveâ? You might hold a bunch of ethical beliefs that lots of other people who use that label also hold, but it seems unclear exactly which set of beliefs is sufficient for the label to fit. (And even if we could settle on some canonical set, the word âeffectiveâ still seems presumptive in a way I donât want to apply to individual people.)