_:nbfa17f34b0f947ceadf537be00b97892xb1
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"<p><strong>Philosophy</strong> is a field oriented towards investigating the most general and abstract features of the world. In effective altruism, discussions often focus on&nbsp;<a href=\"https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/topics/moral-philosophy\"><strong>moral philosophy</strong></a> in particular. Work in effective altruism often raises questions like:</p><p><br>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•&nbsp; &nbsp; What is ‘good’?</p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•&nbsp; &nbsp; Which ethical theory should we follow?</p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•&nbsp; &nbsp; Do humans have a duty to do good?</p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•&nbsp; Is there a “true morality”?</p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•&nbsp; &nbsp; How should we deal with&nbsp;<a href=\"https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/topics/moral-uncertainty\"><u>moral</u></a> and&nbsp;<a href=\"https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/topics/model-uncertainty\"><u>epistemic uncertainty</u></a>?</p><p><br>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Philosophy</strong> can help answer these questions. Philosophical ideas or areas that are relevant to effective altruism include:</p><p><br>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<a href=\"https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/topics/consequentialism\"><u>consequentialism</u></a> (in particular&nbsp;<a href=\"https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/topics/utilitarianism\"><u>utilitarianism)</u></a>: many EAs want to maximise the good according to consequentialist moral theories</p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<a href=\"https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/topics/longtermism\"><u>longtermism</u></a>: the theory that positively influencing the future must be a key moral priority, because of the future’s likely scale&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<a href=\"https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/topics/population-ethics\"><u>population ethics</u></a>: should we care about making people happy, or making happy people? Is it better to have more people who are less happy, or fewer people who are happier?</p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<a href=\"https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/topics/epistemology\"><u>epistemology,</u></a> for example&nbsp;<a href=\"https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/topics/bayesian-epistemology\"><u>Bayesian epistemology</u></a> (a theory for how to update our beliefs in the light of new evidence)</p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<a href=\"https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/topics/decision-theory\"><u>decision theory</u></a></p><p><br>&nbsp;</p><p>Some academic philosophers, for example&nbsp;<a href=\"https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/topics/peter-singer\"><u>Peter Singer</u></a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/topics/william-macaskill\"><u>Will MacAskill</u></a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/topics/hilary-greaves\"><u>Hilary Greaves</u></a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/topics/nick-beckstead\"><u>Nick Beckstead</u></a>, and&nbsp;<a href=\"https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/topics/toby-ord\"><u>Toby Ord</u></a>, have been very influential in effective altruism.<br><br>&nbsp;</p><h2>Academic philosophy as a career</h2><p><a href=\"https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/tag/80-000-hours\">80,000 Hours</a>' shallow profile rates philosophy as a \"sometimes recommended\" career. Academic philosophy is highly competitive, but philosophers have the potential to do important research in neglected areas, and effective advocacy through teaching or public engagement.<span class=\"footnote-reference\" role=\"doc-noteref\" id=\"fnref0l5oqns4bsx8\"><sup><a href=\"#fn0l5oqns4bsx8\">[1]</a></sup></span></p><h2>Further reading</h2><p>Beckstead, Nicholas (2013)&nbsp;<a href=\"https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8P94pg6WYCIc0lXSUVYS1BnMkE/view?resourcekey=0-nk6wM1QIPl0qWVh2z9FG4Q\"><u>On the overwhelming importance of shaping the far future</u></a> (PhD thesis)<br><br>Greaves, Hilary (2023) <a href=\"https://users.ox.ac.uk/~mert2255/\"><u>Hilary Greaves’ home page</u></a><br><br>MacAskill, William (2012a) <a href=\"https://80000hours.org/2012/05/how-to-be-a-high-impact-philosopher/\">How to be a high impact philosopher</a>, <i>80,000 Hours</i>, May 8.</p><p>MacAskill, William (2012b) <a href=\"https://80000hours.org/2012/09/how-to-be-a-high-impact-philosopher-part-ii/\">How to be a high impact philosopher, part II</a>, <i>80,000 Hours</i>, September 2... </p>"
<https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/JuGhpwTJxbeGt5GhH/good-judgment-with-numbers>