Effective Altruism and Hedonistic Sustainability offer distinct approaches to improving the world. Effective Altruism prioritizes evidence-based strategies and maximizing impact, often focusing on long-term global issues and existential risks. Hedonistic Sustainability, on the other hand, emphasizes making sustainable practices enjoyable and integrating them seamlessly into daily life and community design. While EA may appeal to those seeking to make the most significant measurable difference, Hedonistic Sustainability may resonate with individuals who want to adopt sustainable practices without feeling burdened by sacrifice or responsibility. The choice between them depends on individual values, priorities, and preferred methods of contributing to a better future.
| Attribute | Effective Altruism | Hedonistic Sustainability |
|---|---|---|
| Impact Measurement | Emphasizes using evidence and reason to determine the most effective ways to help others. Transparency is valued, with organizations like GiveWell publishing detailed reports. Uses metrics to evaluate effectiveness, considering longevity of impact. | Integrates sustainability with fun aspects but doesn't specify concrete measurements. |
| Scope of Concern (Individual vs. Collective) | Balances individual well-being with collective responsibility. Emphasizes impartial reasoning, considering everyone's well-being as equally important. Adopts a global orientation. | Combines sustainable ideas with community needs; considers both individual well-being and collective responsibility. |
| Time Horizon (Short-term vs. Long-term) | Considers both immediate needs and long-term consequences. Some subscribe to longtermism, including future generations as beneficiaries and working to reduce existential risks. | Considers both immediate physical comfort and long-term mental assurance; addresses the needs of present and future generations. |
| Focus on Suffering Reduction | A core tenet is to improve the welfare of others. Some focus on reducing risks of astronomical suffering (s-risks), which are a particularly severe type of existential risk. | Aims to eliminate the dread or responsibility associated with sustainability. |
| Emphasis on Pleasure/Well-being | Acknowledges the importance of personal happiness and pleasure. Helping others and donating money have been linked to higher life satisfaction. | Sustainability can and should be pleasurable; integrates aspects of sustainability with playfulness to improve human life. |
| Sustainability Integration | Environmental sustainability is integrated into EA principles. Climate change is identified as a cause worth fighting for. | Integrates sustainability into building design to improve human life; combines sustainable ideas, fun, and community. |
| Resource Allocation Strategies | Uses cause prioritization, distributing resources based on what will do the most good. The "importance, tractability, and neglectedness" framework is used. Cost-effectiveness is a key consideration. | Focuses on designs where expending energy produces more of it; unites the 'before, during, and after' of a product's life cycle. |
| Moral Obligations | Believes that the well-off have unconditional obligations to contribute to efforts to improve the world. Some believe it is a moral duty to alleviate suffering through donations. | Challenges the notion of sustainability as a moral sacrifice; frames it as a design challenge. |
| Practical Applicability | Encourages different approaches to doing good, such as donating to effective charities, using careers to make more money for donations, or directly contributing labor. Can be applied no matter how much one wants to focus on doing good, and in any area of life. | Can be applied in everyday lifestyle choices, such as opting for eco-friendly jeans; also used in architectural design. |
| Community and Social Aspects | Fosters a sense of community and social responsibility. Community building involves developing a strong network of engaged people. Local groups, cause area groups, and industry/workplace groups are examples of EA communities. | Promotes pro-community built environments; incorporates public programs for social interaction with climate-conscious design. |
| Ethical Framework | Influenced by utilitarianism, with the principle of maximizing pleasure and minimizing pain. Core principles include scope sensitivity and impartiality. | Pleasure is viewed as the ultimate good, guiding principle, and moral foundation. |
| Consideration of Future Generations | Longtermism emphasizes positively influencing the long-term future and considering the well-being of future generations. | Addresses the needs of both present and future generations; encourages adopting eco-friendly lifestyles and promoting sustainable architecture to improve conditions for future generations. |