Socrates Café Kuala Lumpur

Imagine receiving a letter from a complete stranger, pleading for your kidney. What would you do? In 2017, Vox Correspondent Dylan Matthews faced this very dilemma and chose to donate his kidney to an unknown recipient. This extraordinary act of generosity pushes us to ask: What are the limits of charity? How far should we go to help others?

Join us as we explore the concept of charity, from everyday acts of kindness to extreme altruism.

The Context
Charity, at its core, involves voluntarily giving help to those in need. From ancient religious tithing to modern philanthropic foundations, charity has evolved alongside human societies. It has been a cornerstone of cultures for millennia, endorsed by various religions, philosophies, and moral frameworks. Yet, the nature, motivations, and impacts of charity remain subjects of intense debate.

In recent years, philosopher Peter Singer has popularized the concept of "effective altruism," arguing that we have a moral obligation to give a significant portion of our income to highly effective charities. He contends that if we would ruin our shoes to save a drowning child, we should be equally willing to donate money to save a child's life in a developing country.

But how far does this obligation extend? Are there limits to what we should sacrifice for others? And how do we ensure our charitable acts have the most positive impact?

Many charities, despite good intentions, operate inefficiently or ineffectively, earning them the label of "charitable zombies." These organizations often persist due to inertia, emotional appeal, or lack of scrutiny, sometimes spending more on administration and fundraising than on their stated missions.

In response to concerns about charity effectiveness, organizations like GiveWell have emerged. Founded in 2007, GiveWell brings rigorous analysis to the charitable sector, conducting in-depth research to find and recommend highly effective giving opportunities, primarily focusing on global health and poverty alleviation. They evaluate charities based on criteria such as cost-effectiveness, transparency, room for more funding, and strong evidence of impact. However, only four charities currently make up the GiveWell "Top Charities" list – because so few charities have tangible empirical evidence of making a real long-term difference and the absorbative capacity to take more funds.

Despite these challenges, well-directed charitable giving has the potential to transform lives and address critical global issues. The key lies in understanding how to maximize the impact of our generosity.

Our Exploration:
In this session, we'll trace charity from its basic definition to its broader societal implications:

1. Defining Charity: We'll start by examining what counts as a charitable act. Is giving time as valuable as giving money? How do we distinguish charity from other forms of help or exchange?
2. Motivations for Giving: Why should (or shouldn't) we give? Are we morally obligated to help others if we have the means?
3. Choosing Recipients: Who should we give to? Should we prioritize those closest to us, or wherever our resources can have the greatest impact? We'll discuss the concept of moral distance and its relevance to charitable giving.
4. Limits of Obligation: Are there boundaries to our charitable obligations? We'll examine extreme cases like kidney donation and discuss whether such self-sacrifice is admirable or goes too far.
5. Effectiveness of Charities: How can we maximize the impact of our giving? We'll explore methods for evaluating charities and debate whether we should only support the most efficient organizations.
6. Charity vs. State Responsibility: What is the proper role of private charity versus government welfare programs? Should we rely on voluntary giving to address social issues, or is this a responsibility of the state?