Effective altruism, technoscience and the making of philanthropic value

Area of Science:

• Social Sciences
• Philosophy of Technology
• Philanthropic Studies

Background:

• Effective altruism (EA) is a growing philanthropic movement.
• EA faces criticism for its moral philosophy and political leanings.
• The practice of EA philanthropy remains understudied.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the role of technoscientific expertise in effective altruism.
• To understand how EA actors legitimize and produce philanthropic value.
• To examine EA's engagement with knowledge production and expert boundaries.

Main Methods:

• Comparative analysis of three EA intervention areas: neglected tropical diseases, cultured meat, and AI safety.
• Examination of EA practices in categorization, ranking, and measurement.
• Analysis of underlying technoscientific imaginaries and moral views.

Main Results:

• Claims to technoscientific expertise are central to EA's understanding and legitimation of philanthropic value.
• EA actors actively engage in directing knowledge production.
• EA seeks to redefine the boundaries of expert communities.

Conclusions:

• Technoscience is fundamental to effective altruism's 'worldmaking' ambitions.
• EA's reliance on technoscientific expertise shapes its philanthropic interventions.
• The study highlights the contested nature of expertise within EA philanthropy.