This collection of articles was first published on the website of Sentience Politics. Most charities focus their work on helping individuals who already exist, while few charities try to explicitly benefit individuals who will live in the future. Although it is understandable that people empathize primarily with currently existing individuals, this raises fundamental ethical questions: Is there a rational justification for the ethical disregard of not-yet-existing individuals? How important a...| Effective Altruism Foundation
This collection of articles was first published on the website of Sentience Politics. A full-grown horse or dog is beyond comparison a more rational, as well as a more conversible animal, than an infant of a day, a week or even a month old. But suppose the case were otherwise, what would it avail? The question is not, Can they reason? nor, Can they talk? but, Can they suffer? – Jeremy Bentham From Bentham to Singer: A brief history of impartiality It is rare that a philosopher will make arg...| Effective Altruism Foundation
This collection of articles was first published on the website of Sentience Politics. We try and use our limited resources – skilled time and money – to help others in the most effective way possible. Non-human animals qualify as “others” too, given the strong arguments suggesting that animal suffering matters and that we should strive to reduce suffering regardless of the species of the individuals affected. Factory farms and slaughterhouses cause intense suffering to billions of sen...| Effective Altruism Foundation
This collection of articles was first published on the website of Sentience Politics. At first glance, farm animal advocacy seems to be the top priority for reducing the suffering of all sentient beings. However, a more detailed analysis suggests that there are several different contenders for ultimate priority: Besides farm animal advocacy, this includes (but is not limited to) wild animal suffering, digital sentience, and the ethical use of future technologies. Uncertainty about future deve...| Effective Altruism Foundation