Will MacAskill discussed applying expected utility theory to moral choices.  We discuss uncertainty about god, religion, epistemology, side constraints and obligations we have to friends and family.

 

Will MacAskill is co-founder and President of the Centre for Effective Altruism (CEA) and an Associate Professor in Philosophy at Oxford University. He helped to create the effective altruism movement: the use of evidence and reason to help others by as much as possible with our time and money.

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Through Giving What We Can, CEA encourages people to commit to give at least 10% of their income to the most effective charities; so far we've raised over $1.5 billion in lifetime pledged donations. (You can take the pledge here.)

 

CEA also runs over 100 effective altruism local groups, hosts regular effective altruism conferences, and does research into high-impact policy and philanthropic opportunities.

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Will also cofounded 80,000 Hours, a non-profit that provides research and advice on how you can best make a difference through your career.

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His academic research is on the fundamentals of effective altruism, with a particular focus on how to act given moral uncertainty - the topic of this conversation.