University of St Andrews

Key information

SCOTCAT credits : 30

ECTS credits : 15

Level : SCQF level 10

Semester: 1

Availability restrictions: Not automatically available to General Degree students

Planned timetable: To be confirmed.

In this module we will explore a constellation of philosophical issues and questions surrounding the effective altruism movement. One set of questions concerns the core philosophical commitments of effective altruism, and their overall tenability. For example: is effective altruism compatible with agent-centred partiality for particular charitable causes? Should non-consequentialists understand benevolence in effective altruist terms? Another set of questions deals with issues arising more from 'within' the effective altruist standpoint: What is the most important cause? Fighting extreme poverty, reducing existential risks, or what? How should we decide where to give if there is no clearly best cause? And to what extent is philosophical progress a priority, from an effective altruist perspective? Within the latter set of questions, special emphasis may be placed on different areas in different years.

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact: 2-hour lecture, 1 hour seminar, 1 office hour

Assessment pattern

As used by St Andrews: Coursework = 100%


Re-assessment: Coursework = 100%

Personnel

Module coordinator: Professor T G Pummer
Module teaching staff: Prof Tim Mulgan
Module coordinator email tgp4@st-andrews.ac.uk