Involves

Word

Effective Altruism

ih-FEK-tiv AL-troo-iz-um · noun

An approach to helping others that uses evidence and reasoning to compare where resources can do the most good

Examples

  • Effective altruism asks what another use of the same donation might achieve.

  • An effective-altruism comparison must examine its assumptions as carefully as its final ranking.

Origin

The name describes both an intellectual project and a modern movement. Its central question joins altruistic concern with comparison across possible actions. It does not mean that anyone using the label has already demonstrated effectiveness or settled every disagreement about what counts as good.

How it connects

The phrase names the attempt to join concern for others with explicit comparison.

This word appeared in The comparison inside a good intention, the Involves connection for October 16, 2026, which asked: How should helping change when the same resources could help more elsewhere?

Check yourself

Which question best reflects effective altruism?

What additional benefit could this resource produce compared with alternatives?. Exactly. The approach compares expected benefit rather than relying only on sentiment or recognition.

What the sources establish

  • Effective altruism uses evidence and reason to compare ways of benefiting others.

Sources