Welcome to Effective Altruism

Week 1. Introduction & Getting Started
Welcome to Effective Altruism

Meta-Ethics
- Reasoning in Ethics
- Subjectivism
- Cultural Relativism
- Objectivism
- Religion and Ethics

Normative Ethical Theories
- Introduction to Consequentialism
- Utilitarianism
- Objections to Utilitarianism and Possible Utilitarian Responses
- Deontology
- Exceptionless Moral Rules
- Natural Law Ethics
- Absolute Rights or Prima Facie Duties

Week 2. Poverty and Affluence

The Pond Story
- Global Poverty and the Pond Story
- The Affluent, the Poor and the Rule of Easy Rescue
- Objections to the Pond Analogy
- The Effectiveness of Aid

Discussion with Raymond Offenheiser, Oxfam
- What is Poverty?
- Helping People Solve Their Own Problems
- Evaluating Oxfam's Work

Poverty as Human Rights Violations
- Thomas Pogge’s Argument about Global Poverty
- Institutional Human Rights Violations

Discussion with Dean Karlan, Yale University and Innovations for Poverty Action
- Why 'Does Aid Work?' is the Wrong Question to Ask
- What Works?
- Heart Plus Mind

Week 3. What is the Best Cause? How Much Ought We Do to Help Others?
Discussion with Elie Hassenfeld, GiveWell
- The Story and Work of GiveWell
- GiveWell's Recommended Charities
- On Advocacy, Different Causes and GiveWell's Impact

Discussion with Zell Kravinsky, Julia Wise, and Alexander Berger
- Reasons for Giving
- How Much Should You Give
- Questions and Answers, Part 1
- Questions and Answers, Part 2

Week 4. Effective Altruism and Career Choice
Discussion with Will MacAskill and Matt Wage
- Will MacAskill: An Ethical Career, part 1
- Will MacAskill: An Ethical Career, part 2
- Matt Wage: Earning to Give in Practice
- Questions and Answers, Part 1
- Questions and Answers, Part 2

Week 5. The Giving Game
Introduction to the Giving Game

Week 6. Why Act Ethically?
Rationality, Self-Interest and Ethics
- Ethics and Rationality
- Ethics and Self-Interest
- Ethics and Moral Saints