Solving for Maximal Effectiveness?

Dear Jaclyn,

I’m all for increasing the effectiveness of donor behavior and the effectiveness of nonprofit organizations. But I doubt that erecting a divide between reason and emotion is helpful. Nor is it accurate. Many people who embrace effective altruism find that doing good also makes them feel good.

But leave that aside. Probably you agree. I have a separate question to which I’d welcome your response. You write that we should choose a charity that does the most good in order to maximize our social impact.

I’m skeptical about the language of maximization. We don’t need to maximize in order to increase effectiveness, especially from the status quo.

Do you think living a good life involves maximizing? When you wake up in the morning, or reflect on what you want from the coming year, do you think in terms of maximizing some particular thing?

To the Socratic question, ‘How ought I live?” I doubt that a helpful answer is to see life as solving for maximal effectiveness.

Sincerely,

Rob