Do the Most Good: The 1st Principle of Effective Altruism

A scale with a large box of GOOD on one side and a small box of GOOD on the other side illustrates doing the most good

Should you splurge on a nice dinner—or eat at home and donate the money you saved? Should you use your time to volunteer at a soup kitchen or an afterschool program? William MacAskill points out that each of us is faced with decisions about how to spend our time and money. To make such choices, he suggests we consult the first principle of effective altruism: Perform the action that maximizes the net benefit to humanity. Continue reading to learn what it means to do the most good, according to the philosophy of effective altruism.

Predatory Landlords Are Exacerbating the Housing Crisis

The hand of a predatory landlord painting over an electrical socket with white paint

How dangerous are predatory landlords? How did landlording turn into a full-time job? In his book Evicted, Matthew Desmond argues that predatory landlords are contributing to the housing and eviction crisis in the US. They target low-income earners by charging too much in rent, neglecting repairs, and making non-binding agreements. Continue reading to learn more about predatory landlord practices and their effects.

Housing Discrimination Is Still Common—Despite Being Illegal

A Black couple being rejected for a house, displaying housing discrimination

Is housing discrimination still around today? How do landlords get around discrimination laws? Despite being outlawed in 1968, housing discrimination toward minorities is still prevalent today. The discrimination creates further problems, forcing minorities into poor neighborhoods and restricting their access to education and healthcare. Keep reading for further insights into the present housing discrimination problem.

Effective Altruism Causes: 3 Criteria for Picking an Issue to Tackle

A woman looking at a world map with little fires in several places all over the world illustrates effective altruism causes

Are you passionate about making a real difference in the world? What criteria should you use to choose which causes to support for maximum impact? William MacAskill’s book Doing Good Better offers insights on selecting effective altruism causes. He proposes evaluating problems based on their magnitude, feasibility, and how underappreciated they are. This approach helps you identify where your efforts can have the greatest positive impact. Keep reading to discover how you can make more informed decisions about which global issues to tackle.

Can AI Be Controlled or Contained? 3 Reasons It’s Too Late

A sophisticated AI robot breaking through a wall raises the question, "Can AI be controlled?"

Are you worried about the future of AI? Have you ever wondered if we could simply stop its development? Can AI be controlled or contained? In Scary Smart, author Mo Gawdat explores why halting AI’s progress is no longer possible. He explains that we’ve reached a point of no return, where superintelligent AI will become an independent, thinking entity beyond our control. Keep reading to discover the three reasons why AI can’t be contained or controlled.

Salesforce’s 4 Core Values: Service, Inclusivity, and More

A building with the Salesforce sign

What are Salesforce’s core values? How does Salesforce promote inclusivity and excellent customer service? Marc Benioff says that Salesforce became a Fortune 500 company by practicing principled business. Salesforce prioritizes four key moral principles: service, advancement, inclusivity, and confidence. Let’s discuss how the company has translated each of these principles into action over its history.

Salesforce’s Diversity and Inclusion Initiative for Equality

A rainbow balloon as part of Salesforce's diversity and inclusion campaign

Why is diversity and inclusion important in any business? How does Salesforce create an equal space for all of its employees? Marc Benioff explains that he’s always striven for inclusivity at Salesforce. However, he didn’t explicitly focus on this principle until two key incidents brought Salesforce’s underperformance in this area to his attention. Let’s look at the two incidents that persuaded Benioff to improve Salesforce’s diversity and inclusion plan.

A Detailed Overview of Salesforce’s Business Model

A Salesforce sign on a building

What is Salesforce’s business model? What principles do the company follow? According to Marc Benioff, it’s not enough for a company to simply have principles—it must also practice those principles consistently and benefit all its stakeholders. His company, Salesforce, practices principled business in two ways. Keep reading to learn more about Salesforce’s business model and the principles it upholds.

Salesforce’s Philanthropy: A Better World Through Business

A blue Salesforce sign

How does Salesforce give back to the world? Why is Salesforce so involved in American politics? Marc Benioff considers society and the global environment two of Salesforce’s chief stakeholders. A couple of ways he addresses social and environmental problems are through a philanthropic program and campaigning for political change to promote minorities’ rights. Discover more about Salesforce’s philanthropy efforts.

No Consequences? Taking Determinism to Its Logical Conclusion

A nighttime scene with city lights in the background and a profile of a young man considering a world with no consequences

Are you tired of feeling guilty for your actions? Is that feeling justified? What if you’re not responsible for what you do and say? In his book Determined, Robert Sapolsky explores the concept of determinism and its implications for personal responsibility. He challenges our traditional notions of praise, blame, and punishment in a world with no consequences for our choices. Keep reading to understand Sapolsky’s thought-provoking ideas about human behavior and accountability.