An unusually heartfelt, insightful article on the fundamental challenges of what today is called Effective Altruism.
I started out in social entrepreneurship, motivated in a similar way.
What I have learned, in my personal, professional, and civic life is that “hero” is not a term to aspire to.
Dr. Karpman developed a theory of the “Villain, Victim, Hero” drama triangle. Among his many powerful observations, he noted that a Hero requires a Victim and a Villain.
I resisted this insight with all my being for a long time. In a world of Villains and Victims, I felt being a Hero was the right choice.
Now having spent a significant amount of time with NGOs, friends on the ground, researchers, and a lifetime of GuideStar data, it is very clear to me that a Hero is not what the world needs.
Instead, I recommend studying Transformative Action, which you can read about in a great book called ”Switch” and another “Diffusions of Innovation.”
The fundamental misstep of applying philosophy to other people’s lives is that it diminishes others to a 2D caricature of solveable problems.
The scarring and striking distance between good intentions & what actually happens on the ground is not a problem to fix. It is another unsolvable problem, aka Drama.
Thankfully, we do have real world solutions for bringing positive transformation, but they don’t fit the marketing engine that fuels today’s philanthropy.
It’s an open secret that non-profits are good at solving problems or raising money for them, not both.
What I now understand is that problem isn’t one of skills or technology. It’s that the fantasy of philanthropy is that wealthy, successful individuals can solve other people’s problems.
They almost never can.
The only way social problems are solved durably is by those who have experienced them, with support.
But as we can so clearly see with GiveWell and so many others, the need of a Hero to take credit (or make their donors feel like they deserve it) is greater than the desire or ability to empower.
I started out in social entrepreneurship, motivated in a similar way.
What I have learned, in my personal, professional, and civic life is that “hero” is not a term to aspire to.
Dr. Karpman developed a theory of the “Villain, Victim, Hero” drama triangle. Among his many powerful observations, he noted that a Hero requires a Victim and a Villain.
I resisted this insight with all my being for a long time. In a world of Villains and Victims, I felt being a Hero was the right choice.
Now having spent a significant amount of time with NGOs, friends on the ground, researchers, and a lifetime of GuideStar data, it is very clear to me that a Hero is not what the world needs.
Instead, I recommend studying Transformative Action, which you can read about in a great book called ”Switch” and another “Diffusions of Innovation.”
The fundamental misstep of applying philosophy to other people’s lives is that it diminishes others to a 2D caricature of solveable problems.
The scarring and striking distance between good intentions & what actually happens on the ground is not a problem to fix. It is another unsolvable problem, aka Drama.
Thankfully, we do have real world solutions for bringing positive transformation, but they don’t fit the marketing engine that fuels today’s philanthropy.
It’s an open secret that non-profits are good at solving problems or raising money for them, not both.
What I now understand is that problem isn’t one of skills or technology. It’s that the fantasy of philanthropy is that wealthy, successful individuals can solve other people’s problems.
They almost never can.
The only way social problems are solved durably is by those who have experienced them, with support.
But as we can so clearly see with GiveWell and so many others, the need of a Hero to take credit (or make their donors feel like they deserve it) is greater than the desire or ability to empower.
It’s not a cycle worth repeating.