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gamerboy09pc 's review for:
Altruismul eficient
by Peter Singer
Reading this was an attempt to discover possible life views and actions for a normal person to live a more moral/ethical life, and counter the downsides of today's capitalistic world (which is here to stay it seems). Ideas like Human centered capitalism intrigue me, and they should.
Dichotomy between egoism and altruism
Living Modestly
Social ties to family and to friends are a basic source of happiness. We don't need to indulge in great luxuries to be happy.
Earning to Give
If you have the ability to earn high or hold an influential position with potential to bring good change, then do so. Don't work full time for charities, anyone can do that. This provides fulfillment from a good work life as well as the feeling of doing something for the greater good. Maintain a good balance between what giving and sacrificing, as a healthy and happy giver, gives more and better over a period of time.
Whom to give (Important)
Rather than being guided by emotions, the author suggests to take the way of reason and calculated judgement. "The most good you can do", although not always what one might choose, but certainly is ignored mostly in cases that need not be. One must evaluate better options, and not just give for the sake of it. Focusing on urgent/important issues if they are clearly discernible and the ones where one can make a big influential difference over a long period that very few people are working towards. An objective answer to this is difficult, but definitely can be better concluded by reason driven research and impact assessment. Donating to poor people of poor countries does more good than donating to poor people of rich countries, whose living standards even if highly undesirable, are still much better than the ones in poor countries. For the same cost, more poor people benefit in poor countries rather than the ones in rich countries.
Becoming a fully dedicated effective altruist seems a bit extreme for now. But as it is an emerging movement, I hope it will be within me too. Its inspiring and reassuring to read about people who have the courage to live on much less than what they could, so they can somehow help make the world better, a place we'd all want to live in. The book presents the ideas in a highly readable non-preachy tone, important to be able to accept the message.
" No doubt capitalism does drive some people into extreme poverty—it is such a vast system that it would be surprising if it did not—but it has also lifted hundreds of millions out of extreme poverty. It would not be easy to demonstrate that capitalism has driven more people into extreme poverty than it has lifted out of it; indeed there are good grounds for thinking that the opposite is the case."
Dichotomy between egoism and altruism
"What is really of import is the concern people have for the interests of others. If we want to encourage people to do the most good, we should not focus on whether what they are doing involves a sacrifice, in the sense that it makes them less happy. We should instead focus on whether what makes them happy involves increasing the well- being of others. If we wish, we can redefine the terms egoism and altruism in this way, so that they refer to whether people’s interests include a strong concern for others—it if does, then let’s call them altruists, whether or not acting on this concern for others involves a gain or loss for the altruist.”
Living Modestly
Social ties to family and to friends are a basic source of happiness. We don't need to indulge in great luxuries to be happy.
Earning to Give
If you have the ability to earn high or hold an influential position with potential to bring good change, then do so. Don't work full time for charities, anyone can do that. This provides fulfillment from a good work life as well as the feeling of doing something for the greater good. Maintain a good balance between what giving and sacrificing, as a healthy and happy giver, gives more and better over a period of time.
Whom to give (Important)
Rather than being guided by emotions, the author suggests to take the way of reason and calculated judgement. "The most good you can do", although not always what one might choose, but certainly is ignored mostly in cases that need not be. One must evaluate better options, and not just give for the sake of it. Focusing on urgent/important issues if they are clearly discernible and the ones where one can make a big influential difference over a long period that very few people are working towards. An objective answer to this is difficult, but definitely can be better concluded by reason driven research and impact assessment. Donating to poor people of poor countries does more good than donating to poor people of rich countries, whose living standards even if highly undesirable, are still much better than the ones in poor countries. For the same cost, more poor people benefit in poor countries rather than the ones in rich countries.
" for people at low levels of income, an increase in income does lead to greater happiness, but once income is sufficient to provide for one’s needs and a degree of financial security, further increases have either much less impact on happiness or no impact at all. Other things, especially warm personal relationships, contribute much more."
Becoming a fully dedicated effective altruist seems a bit extreme for now. But as it is an emerging movement, I hope it will be within me too. Its inspiring and reassuring to read about people who have the courage to live on much less than what they could, so they can somehow help make the world better, a place we'd all want to live in. The book presents the ideas in a highly readable non-preachy tone, important to be able to accept the message.