I'm Out of Work

Effective Altruism

  • Philosophical Background:

    • Focus: Evaluating career choices to maximize positive societal impact.

    • Framework: The excerpt from "Doing Good Better" emphasizes using one's career as a tool for meaningful change.

  • Key Quotes from MacAskill:

    • "Your choice of career is a choice about how to spend more than eighty thousand hours over the course of your life..."

      • Highlighting the critical nature of career decisions and their long-term implications on one’s ability to make a difference.

    • "In order to use your career to make a difference, one rule of thumb that I mentioned is to work on a particularly important cause."

      • Reinforces the importance of choosing careers that align with significant societal challenges.

    • Networking Importance: Establishing connections ensures flexibility and multiple career pathways while encouraging alignment with one's values.

Rights Theory

  • Core Principle: Rights theory is focused on identifying and safeguarding individual rights.

  • Key Stakeholders:

    • The Financially Vulnerable:

      • Their rights are infringed by predatory practices leading to exploitation.

    • Your Family:

      • Has a right to financial well-being, which may be threatened by current unemployment.

    • Your Own Rights:

      • You possess the right to seek opportunities that support your family's needs and align with your moral values.

  • Hierarchy of Rights:

    • Rights may conflict; assessing which rights take precedence is crucial.

      • Family Financial Stability: Considers rights related to livelihood and property.

      • Moral Autonomy: Upholding personal ethics shouldn’t compromise the basic rights of others.

      • Conclusion: Accepting roles in predatory industries undermines the rights of vulnerable groups, making it ethically problematic.

Stoicism

  • Principles: Living virtuously requires fair treatment of others, conflicting with exploitation.

  • Moral Implications:

    • Sphere of Control: You can decide whether to accept or decline job offers despite external pressures.

    • Consequences Assessment:

      • Weighing the implications of your choice on family support against personal integrity is essential.

      • Engaging in harmful practices may lead to feelings of guilt or shame.

Aristotelian Ethics

  • Virtue as the Golden Mean:

    • Virtue exists between extremes, exemplified by courage as a balance between cowardice and recklessness.

  • Deliberation Necessity:

    • Short-term financial gain should be weighed against the potential long-term harm of joining a predatory system.

    • Wisdom involves exploring alternatives that align with ethical principles, even at personal sacrifice.

  • Job Access:

    • Consider the disparity of access to opportunities; not all individuals can secure high-level roles, highlighting societal inequities.