How do we live a good and ethical life?

Matthew Collins

This was the question I attempted to address in a recent essay I wrote on Substack. The answer being in the form of a framework, namely Principle Altruism. Which isn't supposed to be in opposition to Effective Altruism in any way. Instead, it serves as a kind of revision that just goes a little further and shifts the focus a bit, akin to the difference between Vegetarianism and Veganism.

Admittedly I did intentionally skim over defining Effective Altruism in the essay itself because I thought that adding a link and referring back to this community for more information would be a safer bet. While also, the word limit was getting a bit tight too.

Without further adieu, here is the essay I published, and here is Principle Altruism.

Intro

We all want to do good and live an ethical life, but how do we do that? I think it starts with self, even though a lot of what seems to be held up as ideals to strive for with regard to ethics is based on the thinking that we must be selfless. Rather than subscribing to the conventional ideas of altruism, we need to acknowledge our deepest underlying self-interest to be able to do the most good we can in the world.

What do I mean by that? Well, that’s what this essay is about. Some parts might get a bit heavy, but trust me, it'll be worth sticking around till the end. So, grab your go-to beverage and maybe your notes app because this’ll be a long one.

Setting the stage

From Mill's Utilitarianism to Kant's Deontology, Aristotle's Virtue Ethics, Camus' Existentialism, Zeno's Stoicism, and the teachings of religious figures like Jesus, Mohammed, and Buddha - they've all given their two cents on how to live a good life. Each has left a mark on the world, some more than others.

Now, I'm not saying I'm on their level. Far from it. But I've been searching for answers that resonate with me, and while I see the value in all these philosophies, none of them were quite as satisfying as I’d hoped.

It may simply be that sometimes we need to hear the same message in different ways before it truly clicks. What speaks to one person might not to another after all.

One philosophy that caught my attention was Effective Altruism. Its core idea? "Do good better." And while it’s not just a repackaging of Utilitarianism, it does lean heavily on it. And this heavy focus on number crunching made me hesitate. It felt like something was missing. But, the community around Effective Altruism is knowledgeable and supportive, so if you're curious to know more, they'd be the ones to chat with over at forum.effectivealtruism.org.

This journey of encountering these different sets of ideas made me wonder: what would it take for me to fully embrace a philosophy? But before I knew it, the question began to answer itself.

Queue the light bulbs.

I came to notice something interesting in the Effective Altruism community. There seemed to be a growing group of folks who were pushing to make bigger lifestyle changes, especially when it came to our relationship with non-human animals. Most of the discussion seemed to centre around talking about going vegan instead of just vegetarian or being omnivorous, let alone carnivorous. But, not everyone was on board. Some seemed to think it's asking too much and that compared to top-down societal changes the impacts of bottom-up individual changes would be almost irrelevant.

This whole debate made me think more about why we make the choices we do, especially when it comes to other animals. It's not just about the environment for me; there's a deeper ethical question here. And so I started to see how our choices fall into three broad categories or circles.

I’ve excluded the circle for carnivores because that’s already enough of a joke as it is.

Omnivorous — This circle includes all potential actions we can take with respect to animal or plant-based choices. Omnivores often enjoy the versatility of both plant and animal sources in their diet. Many are becoming more discerning in their choices, opting for free-range or sustainably sourced meat and fish when possible. Some even sign up for Meatless Mondays and try to incorporate seasonal vegetables where they can, but the overall ethical impact of what they consume, especially regarding animal welfare, remains significant.
Vegetarian — This circle includes a refined set of actions we can take with respect to no longer eating meat. Vegetarians, by excluding meat, take a step towards reducing their involvement with some of the ethical concerns of animal agriculture. Many also gravitate towards dairy and egg products that prioritise animal welfare, indicating a deeper engagement with the ethical considerations of their consumption habits.
Vegan — This circle includes the most refined set of actions we can take with respect to no longer opting for the consumption of any animal products, not only in the food we eat but also in the broader lifestyle we maintain. Vegans, in choosing a plant-only lifestyle, aim to minimise their impact on animal welfare concerns as much as practicably possible. Prioritising plant-based alternatives and avoiding all animal-derived ingredients, a vegan therefore then actively supports a system that minimises harm to animals and promotes a more compassionate approach to consumption.

We can see that as we move inward, the impact of our choices increases, but the range of our options decreases. The trade-off here is more ethical effectiveness at the expense of convenience.

This got me thinking, if we were to draw a parallel with altruism, what would the equivalent circles look like? What then would be the proportional veganism of altruism? What would be able to resonate more rather than settling for something that didn’t feel quite right?

Altruism — This circle includes all potential actions we may make for both effective and ineffective causes, irrespective of their impact. At this level, individuals might donate to various causes based on personal connections or emotions, without necessarily evaluating the broader impact of their contributions. Due to this, the contributions that individuals are making may be better spent elsewhere given a bit more consideration.
Effective Altruism — This circle includes a refined set of actions we can make for causes while being conscious of their effectiveness. Now rather than essentially picking a number out of a hat filled with any and all potential causes we may be able to support or places we choose to work, there is a deeper layer of analysis in how we choose to do good. Donations or time spent volunteering might be directed towards organisations with proven track records or causes that address pressing global issues. This goes a long way in ensuring we are contributing to meaningful change rather than being bottlenecked by surely well-meaning but ineffective organisations.
Principle Altruism — Now let me introduce what I’ve come to call Principle Altruism. This circle includes the most refined set of choices we can make with respect to not only the effectiveness of causes we want to support but also considerations about the broader lifestyle we choose to maintain and the motivations we hold for making such choices. This includes not only where we may choose to make donations/volunteer or through our work, but also through the day-to-day consumer choices we face too. Even though we can all agree that top-down societal changes are necessary for the most objective and tangible impacts on a societal scale, bottom-up individual changes can impact us as individuals in ways that nothing externally driven can.

As with the circles of consumer choices, as we delve deeper into the circles of altruism, the commitment intensifies, but the breadth of easy choices diminishes. The challenge is to align actions with deeply held principles, even when it demands more effort or sacrifice.

Self-discovery (Internal Interactions)

The foundational component of this framework is self-discovery. It provides the grounding and support to enact the subsequent layers, even though to a certain extent progress between the layers can be made simultaneously. Through increased self-awareness, we approach our naturally generous, virtuous, and loving core, as a function of it being the most rewarding for our inherent self-interested nature. However, the issue comes up that it’s scary to confront ourselves, to attempt to answer the questions we ask ourselves. We’re frightened of what we may find, of what’s lurking beneath the surface. It’ll always be easier to deny ourselves until we’re “better” rather than to accept ourselves as we are.

If we agree that humans are fundamentally self-interested, at the deepest level, then we begin to question what would be best to fulfil said self-interest. I propose that the best returns come from a life filled with kindness, compassion, and most importantly, love. This journey unlocks our potential to do good in the world, revealing the latent capacities within our unconscious. Without such an endeavour we would continue to hold, in reserve, potential that's been stored in our unconscious. This goes to further say that we have a responsibility to be our truest selves not only for us but for others as well.

Only once we are able to get to a place of true self-acceptance, self-compassion, and self-love, then, as a natural by-product, do those interactions with ourselves spread into our interactions with the external world. This is why prioritising internal validation is much more useful than external validation because the more we begin to opt for these internal sources of validation, the less we'll need validation from external sources.

Self-discovery is essential for a few important reasons:

Cultivation of moral integrity and character
Mitigation of self-deception through enhanced self-awareness
Infusion of life with purpose, meaning, and value

It lays the foundation for moral education, shaping our character and enabling us to navigate the world ethically and responsibly. By prioritising self-discovery, we actively combat self-deception. In a world where it's easy to unconsciously or passively deceive ourselves, this journey keeps us grounded in reality and truth. Every experience gains depth and significance on the path of self-discovery. It assures us that as long as we continue this introspective journey, every step forward enriches our lives with purpose and understanding.

But how do we go about this journey of self-discovery?

At this stage, while it may be tricky, surrounding ourselves with people who are also taking on this journey, as kind of mountain buddies, walking up together, can have synergistic improvements to our progress. Although, the reason why it’s tricky, isn’t just that these people are harder to find, but that it’s easy to lose ourselves in others sometimes too. So we need to do our best to stay grounded and remember what Emerson said, that “envy is ignorance; imitation is suicide”.

I personally, have found Kyudo, due to how much it focuses on using the practice as a mirror for oneself, to be a phenomenal help in this regard, especially as it seems to attract these kinds of people I’m talking about too.

The point is, if you can, find a group of people, or more likely, slowly cultivate a group of people to climb this mountain of self-discovery together.

While everyone’s individual path is different and no one is going to walk it for us, even if we have our mountain buddies with us we still have to take the steps ourselves, there are a few signposts that can help to guide the way. These are the moments when we catch an insight into a feeling that triggers us or we recognise that we’ve been working off a flawed assumption all along. They’re a kind of roadmap leading us back to the core self that we may have lost touch with a while ago.

Who we've wanted to be: This refers to the ideal self we aspire to become, often moulded by a combination of societal norms and our personal dreams, drawing from the work of Adler. Adler believed that individuals are motivated by their goals and ambitions, especially those rooted in early feelings of inferiority. Thus, this aspect captures our drive to achieve, be recognised, and find our place in the societal hierarchy.
Who we've thought we needed to be: This delves into the roles and masks we believe we must adopt to fit into society and be accepted, drawing from the work of Jung. Jung's concepts of the Persona (the outward face we present to the world), the Shadow (the hidden, repressed aspects of ourselves), and the Anima/Animus (the inner feminine side of a man and the inner masculine side of a woman) play crucial roles here. This aspect reflects both our conscious and unconscious efforts to balance our true selves with societal expectations, often leading to internal conflicts and biases.
Who we are = Who we've wanted to be - Who we've thought we needed to be:

Identity is Multi-faceted: The equation "Who we are = Who we've wanted to be - Who we've thought we needed to be" suggests that finding our true identity is discovered through navigating the balance between our aspirations and the external expectations or societal pressures we feel.
Surface vs. Depth: However, while the result of the equation might give an immediate sense of understanding about oneself, it only scratches the surface. As it only represents the aspects of our identity that we are consciously aware of.
The Unconscious Realm: Beyond our conscious understanding lies a vast realm of unconscious thoughts, desires, fears, and experiences that have also shaped our identity. These are elements we might not be immediately aware of but play a significant role in determining our behaviours, reactions, and feelings.
Complexity of Self-Discovery: The process of truly understanding oneself is not linear or two-dimensional. It's three-dimensional, involving width and height (conscious understanding of aspirations and external pressures) but also depth (unconscious realm). Navigating through this intricate landscape is challenging, making the journey of self-discovery a continuous and profound endeavour.

We must remember that we only know self in the context of other, so trying to disconnect from everybody and everything on this journey of self-discovery is not only ultimately unhelpful but also impossible, as we will always find ourselves in some relation to people and places. It’s like how the idea of hot is only relevant when anchored by a proportional idea of cold. The important part is the awareness we gain from understanding the distinction but also the connection we have from and to everything.

Once we get a grip on who we are, it's like having a personal roadmap. This helps us better connect with those in our local environment, be it family, friends, colleagues, and even strangers.

Situational virtue (Local Interactions)

Life is a series of situations, each with its own set of challenges. Have you ever noticed how easy it is to act out of character when faced with unexpected pressures or temptations? It's like trying to stick to a diet but caving in when someone offers you your favourite dessert.

By being conscious of how different situations can sway our actions, we can better prepare ourselves. This isn't about being rigid or inflexible but about understanding our values and ensuring they shine through, no matter the circumstance. It's about building resilience and consistency in our character, so we don't waver when things get tough.

Now, imagine if life came with a manual, a set of hard and fast rules to follow. It might seem easier at first, but life's complexities don't always fit neatly into boxes. That's why it's more effective to have guiding principles rather than strict rules. Think of them as the North Star for your moral compass.

These principles are best framed as questions, helping us reflect and make decisions that align with our core values. But here's the catch: to genuinely answer these questions, we need to know ourselves deeply first to be able to mitigate as much self-delusion as possible. We may never be able to be completely devoid of self-delusion, but we can certainly be more or less deluded with respect to ourselves. It's like trying to choose the best book for a friend; you can only do it if you truly understand their tastes and interests. Similarly, the journey of self-discovery is crucial to making choices that reflect our true selves. This allows us to cultivate our own critical thinking as compared to simply relying on specific definitions of virtues that we’ve acquired from someone else.

In essence, life doesn't come with a playbook. But with introspection, awareness, and the right guiding questions, we can navigate its challenges with integrity and authenticity.

Here’s a handful of questions to go out into the world with.

Who… am I doing this for? There are many intersecting contributors that may influence whom and for what reason we are doing something. Is it merely a means to impress or spite someone? If so, we might want to have a second thought.
What… am I hoping will come from this? It's easy to distract ourselves from the potential downsides of our actions if an object is sufficiently shiny enough. Do we feel compelled to attract attention or validation? Do we think this will give us lots of money or status? What do we think we'll be able to avoid through doing this? Once we answer this, we should be able to rid ourselves of significant engagements with disappointment and dysfunctional patterns.
When… have I come across this in the past? Having a backlog of experience can be useful in developing an intuition around particular things, keeping these experiences in mind can be helpful in our decision-making. While this may also be the first time we've encountered this kind of decision which could affect how we approach things, keeping this in mind helps us to not fall into the same kind of traps when approaching new and unfamiliar situations such as tensing up and brooding in uncertainty.
Where… could I have a blind spot here? This could be through assessing where we adopted our beliefs about certain things or the perspectives we acquired through experiences in our childhood. What unconscious biases or logical fallacies might I be falling for here? Putting a name to something we've struggled to put a finger on, can go a long way in helping us understand the broader picture.
Why… do I think I'm right? We all tend to, at times, think that we are right, undoubtedly. This overconfidence tends to lead to problems, both foreseeable and unforeseeable. It's better to take a step back and assess why precisely we are thinking the way we are. Where has this overconfidence come from? How could I be wrong here? If I had to argue for the opposition, what would I say? Being able to do this gives us a deeper ability to not only appreciate a different perspective but also, ultimately, articulate our own view as well.

This approach is all about personal responsibility. It's about each of us finding our own moral compass from within through understanding ourselves better. Instead of just accepting what others tell us is right or wrong, we need to be able to figure things out for ourselves.

Sure, there are some universal values and principles we should follow. But just reading or hearing about them isn't enough. We need to truly understand and feel them to make them work in real life. Think of these questions as tools. We don't need every tool for every job, but they're handy to have. If something doesn't feel right, these questions can help us rethink our choices.

So, the next time you're faced with a tough decision, big or small, keep these questions in mind. They might just help you see things a little more clearly.

Once we begin to engage with our local communities a little differently, we may then begin to consider how we are engaging with our broader global community.

Social contribution (Global Interactions)

Think of it like this: we all have this internal "pipe" of understanding and love. Over time, due to life's pressures and challenges, this pipe can get clogged. It's like when we haven't turned on a tap in a long time, and the water doesn't flow smoothly or at all. When this happens and we’re wanting a drink of water, we might turn to taps in other people or things to try and fill up our cup, because our own is clogged. But as we all know, this doesn’t usually turn out too well.

The process of self-discovery is like reaching in and clearing out those blockages. As we get to know ourselves better, we start to turn that valve, letting more of our genuine feelings flow. At first, it's just a drip – a renewed sense of self-worth and self-love. But as we keep working on ourselves, that drip becomes a steady flow.

And here's the thing: once we've cleared out our own blockages and fully opened our valve, that love and understanding doesn't just benefit us. It starts to overflow, impacting those around us. It's not about seeking external validation or love to fill up our cup; it's about tapping into the source we've always had inside and letting it benefit not just ourselves, but all our fellow animals, human and non-human.

The accumulation of the work we've done in the two previous layers culminates into what we can do on a larger scale, how we guide the overflow into our contributions to society more broadly. This contribution is threefold and constitutes the largest areas of ethical impact we can have in our lives.

Imagine these three contributions as signposts on a road trip. They help us gauge if we're on the right path, and while each milestone might be a bit tougher to reach than the last, they're all part of the journey.

Finding ethical work: Which means excluding earning-to-give at hedge funds, oil companies, and any other similarly unethical or ethically dubious operations, due to the costs to our character not being worth the trade.
Engaging in charitable giving/volunteering: Contributing 10% of our income or time to effective organisations and effective causes to impact those who aren't in our immediate vicinity. Doing so helps to foster spending our money and time on things that allow us to give back, in this case, the alleviation of human or non-human suffering.
Rejecting exploitation: This is primarily a decision to shift our priorities from that of our personal pleasure and convenience to the rights of other sentient beings capable of suffering. As a subset to this idea, non-violence is a core assumption here too. Supporting companies that ethically produce their clothing or other products, is an important aspect of our consumer choices we need to consider with respect to human exploitation. While also, adopting veganism is another aspect of our consumer choices we need to consider with respect to non-human exploitation, especially as it's something that's usually unfairly overlooked as extreme or unnecessary.

It may be easy to dismiss this third circle because of the perceived inconvenience or the belief that individual actions don't make a significant impact. However, it's essential to recognise that every choice we make sends a message about the kind of world we want to live in. By opting to work in ethically run companies, donating what we can, and rejecting exploitation, we not only alleviate immediate suffering but also contribute to a broader cultural shift towards empathy, compassion, and ultimately, love.

This circle challenges us to align our daily actions with our deepest ethical intuitions, even when it's uncomfortable or goes against the grain. It's not just about personal purity but about collectively shaping a more just and compassionate society. Every time we choose to support ethical practices, we cast a vote for the kind of world we believe in. That’s why these three contributions are certain kinds of milestones towards a world that benefits us all.

Potential Criticisms

Now I know of at least a dozen potential criticisms of Principle Altruism. As seen here.

Overemphasis on Self-Discovery and Self-Interest: Placing too much emphasis on self-discovery and self-interest leads to excessive introspection, causing individuals to become overly self-focused, less action-oriented, and less altruistic.
Practicality Concerns: The demands of Principle Altruism, especially in terms of lifestyle changes like veganism or supporting only ethical businesses, are too stringent or impractical for many people, especially those with limited resources.
Overlapping with Existing Philosophies: Principle Altruism is a repackaging of existing ethical frameworks, questioning its novelty or distinctiveness.
A Guilt Trip: The high standards set by Principle Altruism leads individuals to feel guilty or inadequate if they fail to meet all its tenets, potentially causing mental distress.
Cultural and Socioeconomic Differences: The framework doesn't adequately account for cultural, socioeconomic, or regional differences in ethical considerations.
Elitist Tendencies: Principle Altruism is elitist, catering more to those with the time and resources to engage deeply in self-discovery and make more expensive ethical consumer choices.
Ambiguity in Application: The principles, while sound in theory, are too ambiguous in practical application, leading to varied interpretations.
Paralysis by Analysis: With so much emphasis on introspection and making the "right" choice, individuals might become paralysed, overthinking every decision, and potentially becoming less effective in their altruistic efforts.
Overreliance on Individual Change: While individual actions are essential, systemic change is more crucial. Principle Altruism places too much responsibility on individuals without addressing larger systemic issues.
Economic Implications: By advocating for support of only ethical businesses or certain lifestyles, there might be concerns about the economic implications, such as potential job losses in industries deemed "unethical."
Echo Chambers: Given the emphasis on surrounding oneself with like-minded individuals or "mountain buddies" on the journey of self-discovery, this leads to the creation of echo chambers. By constantly engaging with people who share similar views, individuals become insulated from diverse perspectives, limiting growth and understanding.
Overemphasis on Ethical Consumerism: By placing a significant focus on ethical consumer choices, Principle Altruism inadvertently promotes the idea that one can "buy" their way to an ethical life. This overshadows other non-consumer-related ethical actions and also inadvertently promotes a form of capitalism wrapped in ethical branding.

I intend to make a follow-up essay that has the sole purpose of addressing these potential criticisms in a detailed and in-depth way that can also serve as a kind of FAQ. I’ll give it a bit of time before I do though, to make sure each person who wants to have a say has the chance.

I’m always open to feedback and further discussion, so if you have any criticisms in particular, either already on this list or not, that you’d like to discuss, then feel free to leave a comment or send me an email/message. Any additional perspectives I can take into account will only help further develop this set of ideas in one way or another.

Summary

Principle Altruism is not just another philosophy on doing good; it's a holistic approach to ethical living that acknowledges our human nature. While Traditional Altruism focuses on selfless acts and Effective Altruism emphasises quantifiable impact, Principle Altruism integrates both and aims to go a step further. It's about making choices that align with deeply-held ethical principles that stem from an innate and powerful self-interest, encompassing not just charitable actions but also our daily lifestyle decisions. It’s the understanding that doing what’s ultimately best for us, is also the best we can do for those around us, which is to be kind, compassionate, and loving.

An important thing to note here is to highlight the difference between egoism and egotism, as they are often confused.

Egoism is, as the Oxford Dictionary defines it, “an ethical theory that treats self-interest as the foundation of morality”, whereas Egotism is, also as the Oxford Dictionary defines it, “the fact of being excessively conceited or absorbed in oneself.”

This is where people conflate egoism to be egotism, as colloquially they can mean the same thing. But when we use the precise definitions it’s clear how they differ. It seems the main difference is that one is a way of looking at the world and the other is based on self-delusion. We can all agree that being egotistic isn’t the ideal we should be striving for, but it is to say that being egoistic should get some more air time.

At its core, Principle Altruism emphasises:

Self-Discovery: Before we decide to make a positive impact on the world, we should make a positive impact on ourselves first. This involves introspection, self-awareness, and aligning our actions with our true selves.
Situational Virtue: Life is unpredictable, but our values shouldn't be. Principle Altruism encourages us to maintain our ethical standards consistently, regardless of the situation through developing our individual ethical discernment.
Social Contribution: It's not just about personal growth or local impact. Principle Altruism emphasises our role in the global community, from supporting ethical businesses to advocating for broader societal change.

In essence, Principle Altruism is a call to live authentically with our self-interest in mind, making choices that resonate with our core values, and recognising the ripple effect of our actions on the broader world.

Everything is taken care of along the way when we take care of ourselves along the way.

This also isn’t about being perfect, but about doing as much as we practicably can to align with the kindest, most compassionate, and loving choices we are capable of. We should dive deep into these ideas and give them a real shot, instead of just saying, "Well, it's too hard, so why bother?" For those who might not know, this "why bother" attitude is called an "appeal to futility." It's like saying, "We all want world peace, but since we can't make it perfect, why even try?" Clearly, that's not the mindset we want. Let's aim high and do our best!

Conclusion

Some say that mixing self-interest with doing good for others makes the good deed less genuine. But let's look at it differently.

Remember the videos where I talked about self-improvement and self-discovery? Think of self-improvement as trying to "fix" ourselves out of fear of not being good enough. In contrast, self-discovery is like embracing who we are with love, knowing we're already good enough. It's about getting to know ourselves better and getting to a place of self-acceptance, self-compassion, and self-love.

That’s where I think a lot of these philosophies go wrong, they try to take a shortcut to the finish line without running the race. Love has to start from within us, otherwise, it becomes a kind of attachment or addiction. We have to focus on gradually expanding that circle of love further and further as time goes on using the love we’ve been able to show to ourselves as a source for the love we show to others. So then, as long as we are prioritising love, it has to start from a place of self-interest. We’re kidding ourselves if we don’t acknowledge this.

Imagine starting with a blurry selfie of who you are. Every experience, whether a setback or a win, adds clarity to that picture. Over time, with each lesson learned, the image becomes crystal clear. Every high and low just adds more detail to our self-portrait.

Now, about Principle Altruism: it's not about judging someone else’s journey. This is about focusing on what we are doing, as individuals, and the standards we hold for ourselves while also recognising that the path taken by others is not only different from our own but also isn’t ours to control. Mistakes today might be tomorrow's wisdom. People do what they think is best in the moment. Instead of pointing fingers, let's uplift each other to make kinder choices that are based in the love we find on our journey through self-discovery as a result of our fundamental self-interest. Stay true to yourself, choose kindness, and if you trip up? Again, remember, it's just a learning moment to shape your journey.

It’s just the beginning of this ethical framework, version 1.0. I hope it sparks some interesting thoughts and plants a seed for further discussions.

Thanks for reading, and take care!

Effective Altruism Forum
EA Forum