Effective Altruism MUBS
Most of us want to improve the world. We see suffering, injustice, and death and feel moved to do something about it. But figuring out what that “something” is, let alone actually doing it, can be a difficult and disheartening challenge. Effective altruism is a response to this challenge.
Who we are
As part of the broader effective altruism movement, the MUBS student group is dedicated to building a community of people who seek to continuously investigate strategies to improve the world and apply them in their lives. EA MUBS is a recognized student-run organization.
We run Fellowships during which we discover and discuss new ideas, and we join or run events including talks, dinners, and conferences.
Effective Altruism MUBS at a Glance
Effective altruism — efforts that actually help people rather than making you feel good or helping you show off — is one of the great new ideas of the 21st century.
Barbara Kayondo, Lecturer
Know about us
What Makerere University Business School EA does is maximally important. I wish I had a group like this when I was an undergrad.
Collaborative spirit
We can achieve more by working together. This requires high standards of honesty, friendliness, and a community perspective.
Cultivating good
Effective altruism is about cultivating a good character while ambitiously working towards a better world.
Discussions
Although effective altruism is better defined by these values rather than any particular project, these values can be illustrated by concrete applications.
Community
People inspired by effective altruism have worked on projects that range from funding the distribution of 200 million malaria nets, to academic research on the future of AI, to campaigning for policies to prevent the next pandemic.
Formalisation
Effective altruism was formalized by scholars at Oxford University, but has now spread around the world, and is being applied by tens of thousands of people in more than 70 countries.
Altruisic thinking
They’re not united by any particular solution to the world’s problems, but by a way of thinking. They try to find unusually good ways of helping, such that a given amount of effort goes an unusually long way.
Core Values of Effective Altruism
Priotisation
Resources are limited, so we have to make hard choices between potential interventions.
Impartial Altruism
It’s reasonable and good to have special concern for one’s own family, friends, life, etc. But when trying to do good in general, we should give everyone’s interests equal weight — no matter where or even when they live.
Open Truth-seeking
Rather than starting with a commitment to a certain cause, consider many different ways to help and try to find the best ones you can. Put serious time into deliberation and reflection, be constantly curious for new evidence, and be ready to change your views quite radically.