What beats intuition when it comes to doing good? (with Marcus Davis)

About this episode

The episode explores the complexities of comparing different forms of good and the moral implications of cost effectiveness in charitable actions.

Read the full transcript here. If you enjoy our podcast, we have some exciting news – we’ve just launched a new membership called Clearer Thinking Plus. Members get this podcast completely ad-free, as well as two professional coaching sessions every month, access to our advanced cognitive assessment, and seven other exclusive perks. Clearer Thinking Plus is one of the most affordable ways to get access to a high-quality coach - whether you want to improve your habits, find more effective ways to work towards your goals, or get assistance making difficult decisions. It is also a more affordable and convenient way to get all the perks we offer. If you're not interested in coaching, you can still get ad-free access to this podcast and the other perks with our explorer plan. Access www.clearerthinking.org/plus to become a member today. We hope to see you there! Can radically different forms of good really be compared? What makes two charitable outcomes commensurable? When does cost effectiveness become a moral argument rather than just an economic one? Is helping the global poor often cheaper for reasons that are ethically relevant? How should we weigh temporary enrichment against…

People in this episode

Host: Spencer Greenberg

Guest: Marcus Davis

Topics covered

• charitable outcomes
• cost effectiveness
• moral arguments
• global poverty
• value systems
• comparison of causes

Keywords

• intuition
• doing good
• charity
• moral comparison
• ethical relevance
• global poor
• temporary enrichment
• value systems

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