Parfit Memorial Lecture 2019 - Lara Buchak (University of California)
The Parfit Memorial Lecture is an annual distinguished lecture series established by the Global Priorities Institute (GPI) in memory of Professor Derek Parfit. The aim is to encourage research among academic philosophers on topics related to global priorities research - using evidence and reason to figure out the most effective ways to improve the world. This year, we are delighted to have Lara Buchak deliver the Parfit Memorial Lecture. The Parfit Memorial lecture is organised in conjunction with the Atkinson Memorial lecture.
A recording of the lecture is now available to view here.
Title: Should effective altruism focus on global health or existential threats?
When: Thursday, 23 May, 4.30-6.00pm (followed by time for questions)
Where: Seminar Room C, Manor Road Building, Manor Road, Oxford, OX1 3UQ
Abstract
Global health interventions have a high probability of making a relatively small impact. Interventions that seek to eliminate or minimise existential threats often have a low probability of making an impact, and the probability of both the threat itself and the impact are hard to estimate; however, if they do make an impact, that impact will be enormous. Given these facts, which types of interventions should we focus on? I explore the difference that risk-aversion and risk-inclination, and ambiguity-aversion and ambiguity-seeking make to this question. Finally, I consider which of these attitudes we should adopt for purposes of ethics..