IMPACT THINKINGAnna Riedl
– everyone (at least sometimes)
“Why am I here?”
EFFECTIVE ALTRUISM“using science and rational decision-making to help
as many sentient beings as possible”
philosophy and social movement
ethical career choice
EFFECTIVE ALTRUISM“using science and rational decision-making to help
as many sentient beings as possible”
philosophy and social movement
ethical career choice
10% pledge
global priority research
effective giving
evidence-based development aid
earning to give
teaching rationality
social entrepreneurship
existential risk prevention
goal to do the most good
tools science, rational
thinking [mental toolbox]
BASIC ASSUMPTIONS
Check your intuition:education
iron fortification | uniforms | school mealsscholarship | school meals | deworming pills
extra teacher | new school building | conditional cash transfer
Check your intuition:education
iron fortification | uniforms | school mealsscholarship | school meals | deworming pills
extra teacher | new school building | conditional cash transfer
1. What is Good? Overcome Common Sense
2. Strategy: Define Goal (KPI)
HOW TO THINK ABOUT IMPACT
1. What is Good? Overcome Common Sense
2. Strategy: Define Goal (KPI)
HOW TO THINK ABOUT IMPACT
1. What is Good? Overcome Common Sense
2. Strategy: Define Goal (KPI)
3. End and means (instrumental and terminal goals)
4. Thought experiments (isolate variables to learn about values)
5. Measurability/Comparability
6. Numbers count
7. Counterfactual Impact
HOW TO THINK ABOUT IMPACT
HOW TO MAXIMISE IMPACT
1. Importance & Scale
2. Tractability
3. Neglectedness
4. (Bonus) Personal Fit
The three most important questions
“ethical opportunity costs”
– Richard P. Feynman
“The first principle isthat you must not fool yourself
and you are the easiest person to fool.”