Cause neutrality

Cause neutrality (sometimes called cause impartiality^[1] or strategic cause selection^[2]) is the view that causes should be prioritized based on impartial assessments of impact rather than on other considerations (suchconsiderations, such as saliency or personal attachment).attachment. It is generally considered to be a core idea in effective altruism.

cause prioritization | means neutrality | neutrality

cause prioritization | means neutrality

If one accepts a formCause neutrality (sometimes called cause impartiality^[1] or strategic cause selection^[2]) is the view that causes should be prioritized based on impartial assessments of consequentialism, this implies that they should select actions so as to make the world as good as possible according to their values, and disregard anyimpact rather than on other considerations like(such as saliency or personal attachment). It is generally considered to be a personal history with a cause. "Neutrality" is this disregard for irrelevant considerations. This concept is also sometimes called "cause impartiality."core idea in effective altruism.

Suppose you value the welfare of all humans equally and suppose that dementia research is not the most effective way to help humans. Then being cause-impartial or cause-neutral means you should not fund dementia research, even if dementia has personal significance to you (e.g. because it affected a family member).

Two subcases of neutrality are:

• Cause neutrality: the idea that we should prefer the focus area (or cause area) that most advances our values without regard to other considerations.
• Means neutrality: the idea that we should prefer the method that most advances our values without regard to other considerations.

Schubert, Stefan (2017) Understanding cause-neutrality, Centre For Effective Altruism, March 10 (updated 30 December 2020).

1. ^{^}

   Schubert, Stefan (2017) Understanding cause-neutrality, Centre For Effective Altruism, March 10 (updated 30 December 2020).

2. ^{^}

   Karnofsky, Holden (2012) Strategic cause selection, The GiveWell Blog, May 2 (updated 25 July 2016).

If one accepts a form of consequentialism, this implies that they should select actions so as to make the world as good as possible according to their values, and disregard any other considerations.considerations like a personal history with a cause. "Neutrality" is this disregard for irrelevant considerations. This concept is also sometimes called "cause impartiality."

If one accepts a form of consequentialism, this implies that they should select actions so as to make the world as good as possible,possible according to their values, and disregard any other considerations. "Neutrality" is this disregard for non-consequentialist considerations. This concept is also sometimes called "cause impartiality."

Suppose you value the welfare of all humans equally,equally and suppose that dementia research is not the most effective way to help humans. Then being cause-impartial or cause-neutral means you should not fund dementia research, even if dementia has personal significance to you (e.g. because it affected a family member).

BibliographyFurther reading

If one accepts a form of consequentialism, this implies that they should select actions so as to make the world as good as possible, according to their values, and disregard any other considerations. "Neutrality""Neutrality" is this disregard for non-consequentialist considerations.

Related entries

cause prioritization

Further readingBibliography

Hutchinson, Michelle. 2016.Michelle (2016) Giving What We Can is cause neutral., Effective Altruism Forum, April 22.
A discussion of cause neutrality.

MacAskill, W.William & Meissner, D. 2020.Darius Meissner (2020) Cause Impartiality. In Introduction to , in 'Utilitarianism and practical ethics', Utilitarianism.

Sentience Politics. 2016.Politics (2016) The benefits of cause-neutrality., Sentience Politics, April.
A discussion of the practice and benefits.