Ideas worth spreading

What are the most important moral problems of our time?

2,480,281 views |

Will MacAskill |

TED2018

• April 2018

Of all the problems facing humanity, which should we focus on solving first? In a compelling talk about how to make the world better, moral philosopher Will MacAskill provides a framework for answering this question based on the philosophy of "effective altruism" -- and shares ideas for taking on three pressing global issues.

Of all the problems facing humanity, which should we focus on solving first? In a compelling talk about how to make the world better, moral philosopher Will MacAskill provides a framework for answering this question based on the philosophy of "effective altruism" -- and shares ideas for taking on three pressing global issues.

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

About the speaker

Will MacAskill

Moral philosopher, writer

See speaker profile

Will MacAskill is a cofounder of the effective altruism movement, a philosophy that tries to answer the question: How can we do as much good as possible?

Will MacAskill | Avery, 2016 | Book

Doing Good Better

The definitive introduction to the philosophy of effective altruism. In Doing Good Better, MacAskill explains how effective altruism applies data and scientific reasoning to the normally sentimental world of doing good. In the course of his research he's come to the remarkable conclusion that most ways of making a difference achieve little — but that by targeting our efforts on the most effective causes, we each have an enormous power to make the world a better place.

Benjamin Todd | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2016 | Book

80,000 Hours: Find a fulfilling career that does good

A guide to finding a fulfilling career that tackles the world's most pressing problems, based on five years of research alongside academics at Oxford. By the cofounder and CEO of the social impact research organization 80,000 Hours.

Nick Bostrom | Oxford University Press, 2016 | Book

Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies

In Superintelligence, philosopher Nick Bostrom lays the foundation for understanding the future of humanity and intelligent life, and asks: What will happen when machines surpass humans in general intelligence?

Centre for Effective Altruism (ed.), 2016 | Book

The Effective Altruism Handbook

An introduction to some of the core concepts and key cause areas of effective altruism.

Will MacAskill on Waking Up with Sam Harris, 2016 | Listen

"Being Good and Doing Good"

Sam Harris speaks with philosopher William MacAskill about effective altruism, moral illusions, existential risk and other topics.

Owen Cotton-Barratt speaking at EAGxOxford 2016 | Watch

"Prospecting for Gold"

A metaphor-driven look at the principles behind effective altruism.

| Listen

The 80,000 Hours Podcast with Rob Wiblin

This podcast features in-depth conversations about the world’s most pressing problems and how you can use your career to solve them.

Learn more

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.