Effective altruism is a research field and practical community that aims to find the best ways to help others, and put them into practice.
The world is changing in important ways; we can contribute to real progress, but we must also reduce the new risks that come with it.
Everyone wants to do good, but many ways of doing good are ineffective. The EA community is focused on finding ways of doing good that actually work.
This led to many ideas like the following:
Effective altruism isn't one organization, it's a broad community of people working on a diverse set of projects with a common goal: doing as much good as possible. Below are some things people have done.
Some of the writing and research that has influenced the movement the most.
Many experts predict that powerful artificial intelligence will be developed this century. That would radically change society — and without careful thought, disastrously so.
GiveWell's extensive research provides the gold-standard for the cost-effectiveness of public health interventions.
You'll probably spend half your waking hours on your career. That makes it your most valuable resource for doing good.
Most past societies had norms that appear catastrophically wrong in retrospect. Are we any different?
Would a global conflict threaten the survival of human civilization? What can be done?
Below are some important books on the most pressing problems and how you can use your time and resources to make a difference. You can get a copy for free via the Impact Books program.
Request a free bookAn exploration of the risks society faces, their context in the greater story of humanity, and how ending these risks is among the most pressing moral issues of our time.
How to find a fulfilling career that tackles the worlds most pressing problems, based on five years of research alongside academics at Oxford.
The Introductory EA Program is an eight-week seminar guided by a facilitator.
Based on fellowships run at Stanford, Oxford, MIT and 20+ other universities around the world.Get StartedMeet impact-driven people and join one of thousands of groups around the world
Find an event near youView articles and videos about Effective Altruism in the media.
Read our key ideas and get monthly emails with updates from the community.