The Most Good You Can Do

Most people want to make a difference in the world.

But the practical challenge of determining exactly what to do often gets in the way of doing anything at all.

The 'Effective Altruism' movement is a response to this challenge. And today, I want to share three of its core principles.

1 - Every human life is of equal value

Many will find this self-evident, but for those who don't, consider this fact:

You had no control over the initial circumstances into which you were born. Those circumstances determined your prospects in life. You could just as easily have gained consciousness in Somalia or North Korea as you could a well-to-do household in a developed nation.

2 - Ordinary people can make an extraordinary difference

Imagine running into a building to save a child. What would people think of you as you emerge from the blaze?

You would rightfully be heralded a hero.

Now imagine you saved a child every month, for the rest of your life.

I have good news for you - you can do precisely that.

3 - Maximising impact, minimising costs

There are endless causes to donate to. The question the Effective Altruists aim to answer is which will have the greatest impact at the lowest cost?

The average cost of realising a child's wish through the Make A Wish Foundation is $10,130.

That sum, if donated to the Against Malaria Foundation and used to provide bed nets to families in malaria-prone regions, could save the lives of at least four children. If donated to The Seva Foundation to treat trachoma, it could protect 125 children from losing their sight as they grow older.

If you live in a rich country, you have a real opportunity to make a difference in the world. Doing so requires you to think scientifically, rather than sentimentally. It requires you to find the greatest need for your next marginal dollar.