Effective altruism enjoys widespread support, including among Quillette readers ranging from Sam Harris to Geoffrey Miller. In fact, it's hard to deny that if we're inclined to act charitably, we should follow our head as much as our heart. We should subject charity to scrutiny.
When Helping Hurts
The problem comes when the view we take of what we're trying to achieve becomes too myopic. For example, we all agree that if we're going to relieve a famine, we should find the cheapest way to feed the famished. But what if feeding the hungry creates more hungry people to feed? What if it indirectly contributes to more civil conflict, enriches warlords, or interferes with agricultural markets in ways that drive domestic farmers out of business? Recent studies suggest that food aid to African countries has done all of these things.
Comment: Georgetown should ask Evergreen College how being ruled by lunatic SJWs has worked out for them.