Despite the negative coverage of Sam Bankman-Fried, effective altruism (EA) is still a popular philanthropic movement. A YouGov poll found that 67% of respondents approved of EA, with 81% expressing approval among those who have heard of it. EA seeks effectiveness, which has been a cornerstone of philanthropic discourse for decades. Donors will always look to get the most bang for their buck, and top-down philanthropy isn’t going anywhere. EA speaks directly to that impulse. Despite the downfall of SBF, EA will likely remain controversial and embattled, but still a potent force in the philanthrosphere. EA is popular because it is a philosophy that advocates using evidence and reasoning to try to do the most good possible with a given amount of resources.
Here’s an AI summary, courtesy of GoodContent: