Archive for August, 2016

Episode 143: Is Effective Altruism Pissing in the Wind?

Posted: August 30, 2016 in Uncategorized
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You can listen to this episode above and subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. You can also listen to this episode on Stitcher, Cyber Ears or download it on Archive.org (51mins, 39MB).

We are again joined by politics professor Jason Brownlee. This is a continuation of our discussion with Jason from last episode (#142), where he introduced Peter Singer’s work on effective altruism and discussed some of the positive aspects. On this episode Jason discusses some critiques of Singer’s effective altruism, focusing mainly on a failure to address the structural causes of poverty, such as capitalism and neoliberal institutions like the International Monetary Fund.

Chumbawamba

*Image from Chumbawamba’s album ‘First 2’ – see ‘Clips’ below for a link to buy this album.

If you like what you hear, please support the show!

Clips:

That Mitchell and Webb Sound, Series 1 ‘Just 3 Pounds a Month’, Chumbawamba ‘Invasion’, ‘How to get your Band on Television’ and ‘More Whitewashing’ – all from the album First 2, Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott ‘When I Get Back to Blighty’.

You can listen to a short (9 minute) version of this episode, which features a shortened version of Nick’s discussion with Jason on critiques of effective altruism, below. You can subscribe to these short versions of our episodes through Omny.

Episode 142: Begging You to Give Your Money Away – an Introduction to Effective Altruism

Posted: August 21, 2016 in Uncategorized
Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
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Singer quote

Image from psiimpact.com

You can listen to this episode above and subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. You can also listen to this episode on Stitcher, Cyber Ears or download it on Archive.org (50mins, 38MB).

This episode features politics professor Jason Brownlee discussing Australian ethicist Peter Singer’s work on effective altruism. To look further intro Singer’s views on the topic, listen to his Ted Talk (embedded below) and check out thelifeyoucansave.org. Our discussion with Jason on effective altruism continues on episode 143.

Also covered throughout the episode is: some of Singer’s more controversial ethical positions, the work-consume treadmill, againstmalaria.com and advocacy for homeless people in Perth.

We also have a return of the segment ‘When Karl Pilkington Makes Sense’ – this time on charity.

If you like what you hear, please support the show!

Clips:

Logic ‘Begging You’, The Chaser speaking at the 2010 Global Atheist Convention, Ricky Gervais podcast, Karl Pilkington Appeal for Comic Relief, Peter Singer’s Ted Talk: ‘The Why and How of Effective Altruism’, Bill Hicks ‘The War’ – from the album ‘Relentless’, Supertramp ‘Give a Little Bit’.

You can listen to a short (11 minute) version of this episode, which features a shortened version of Nick’s discussion with Jason on effective altruism, below. You can subscribe to these short versions of our episodes through Omny.