If each of us acts according to Effective Altruism, surely we will bring about the best outcome? Surprisingly, the answer is ‘no’, even if no one is making any factual mistakes. Professor Bykvist will present this puzzle in more detail and explore some reactions to it. The good news is that Effective Altruism is not doomed, but the puzzle does teach us some valuable lessons about altruism.

The presentation will be followed by Q&A!

Krister Bykvist is a professor in Practical Philosophy at the Department of Philosophy at Stockholm University and the Institute for Futures Studies. His tenure includes roles at Oxford and Cambridge Universities, focusing on future generations, consequentialism, evaluative uncertainty, and the nexus between preferences, value, and welfare. He leads the "Coordination ethics and climate change" project at the Institute for Future Studies and co-authored the book "Moral Uncertainty" with Will MacAskill and Toby Ord.