If the goal of effective altruism is to have any merit, then being able to rationally determine what causes are “worthy” and which would be a waste of resources is a necessary skill. Taking a deep philosophical dive into every decision will only lead to INdecisiveness and perpetual delay of causes getting ANY help. For anyone who has seen the TV show “The Good Place”, the character of Chidi is a prime (fictional) example of this. The character is so obsessed with the minutest ethical details of any decision that he becomes essentially incapable of making ANY choices without agonizing over the details, which eventually leads to his death and his being sent to “the bad place”. Engaging with one’s own moral or ethical philosophy is necessary, of course, but not if it will interfere with doing genuine good. Especially when the need being met requires a timely response.
If the goal of effective altruism is to have any merit, then being able to rationally determine what causes are “worthy” and which would be a waste of resources is a necessary skill. Taking a deep philosophical dive into every decision will only lead to INdecisiveness and perpetual delay of causes getting ANY help. For anyone who has seen the TV show “The Good Place”, the character of Chidi is a prime (fictional) example of this. The character is so obsessed with the minutest ethical details of any decision that he becomes essentially incapable of making ANY choices without agonizing over the details, which eventually leads to his death and his being sent to “the bad place”. Engaging with one’s own moral or ethical philosophy is necessary, of course, but not if it will interfere with doing genuine good. Especially when the need being met requires a timely response.