About this course: Effective altruism is built on the simple but unsettling idea that living a fully ethical life involves doing the most good one can. In this course you will examine this idea's philosophical underpinnings; meet remarkable people who have restructured their lives in accordance with it; and think about how effective altruism can be put into practice in your own life.
Created by: Princeton University
Taught by: Peter Singer, Ira W. Decamp Professor of Bioethics
University Center for Human Values
| Commitment | 10-15 hours of videos and assignments |
| Language | English, Subtitles: Romanian |
| How To Pass | Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. |
| User Ratings |
Syllabus
WEEK 1
Introduction
1 video, 4 readings
WEEK 2
Getting Started
In this week, we will give those of you who do not have a background in philosophy, or who need a refresher, an opportunity to study two areas of ethics: meta-ethics and normative ethical theories.
12 videos, 2 readings
WEEK 3
Poverty and Affluence, Part 1
What obligations do the affluent have towards those who live in extreme poverty? In this week, we look at one distinct argument based on consequentialist ethics, and also begin the discussion of the effectiveness of aid programs. This week also includes a conv...
7 videos, 2 readings
WEEK 4
Poverty and Affluence, Part 2
In this week we discuss poverty as human rights violations. You will also find a conversation with Dean Karlan about effective solutions to poverty problems in this week.
5 videos, 2 readings
WEEK 5
What is the Best Cause?
How do you get the most value for your charitable dollars? How can you compare different causes to each other, and how do you compare different charities to each other? The guest in this week is Elie Hassenfeld from GiveWell, an organization that tries to find...
3 videos, 1 reading
WEEK 6
How Much Ought We Do to Help Others?
In this week you will meet three individuals who in different ways embody the ideal of effective altruism: Zell Kravinsky, Julia Wise and Alexander Berger.
4 videos, 1 reading
WEEK 7
Career Choice
In this week Will MacAskill and Matt Wage discuss effective altruism and career choice.
5 videos, 1 reading
WEEK 8
The Giving Game
In this week you will have the opportunity to play the Giving Game.
2 videos, 1 reading
WEEK 9
Why Act Ethically?
In this last week, we circle back to some foundational questions in ethics. What is the relationship between rationality, self-interest and ethics? How demanding is morality, and why exactly should be try to live an ethical life? In this week you will also fin...
3 videos, 3 readings
Graded: Essay Assignment
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Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. It is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution.
Ratings and Reviews
a unique chance to challenge your world-view by exposing yourself to the logical and down-to-earth approach to ethics that Peter Singer stands for. it's not about saving the world, it's about saving your soul, in the sense that knowing about the degree of inequality makes you guilty if you do nothing - check out the pond analogy to get started...
What a wonderful course. It gives each of us a way to help in the best possible manner. One would think that only serious philanthropists can help when in fact every single person can.
The course is very good.
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This course is important on many levels, and take the lessons seriously as your way of life could develop in new and more enriching ways if you fully engage. The final essay can be complex depending on which question you choose, so try your best to answer as carefully as you can.