Will MacAskill

Will MacAskill is a Scottish moral philosopher and one of the founding figures of the effective altruism (EA) movement. He studied at Oxford University and is a fellow in philosophy at Lincoln College, Oxford. MacAskill co-founded the Centre for Effective Altruism (CEA) in 2011 and founded 80,000 Hours, an organization that helps people find high-impact careers aligned with doing the most good. He has authored several influential books including "Doing Good Better" (2015) and "What We Owe the Future" (2022), which articulate EA principles and argue for prioritizing long-term global welfare and existential risk reduction.

MacAskill's work has been central to popularizing effective altruism beyond academic circles, influencing how thousands of people approach career decisions and charitable giving. His research focuses on moral philosophy, population ethics, and how to identify and pursue the most impactful ways to improve the world. He has become a prominent public intellectual in discussions about AI safety, global priorities, and longtermism—the view that improving the long-term future should be a major moral priority.

Scottish moral philosopher educated at Oxford University who co-founded the Centre for Effective Altruism and 80,000 Hours. His work on effective altruism—the use of evidence and reason to do the most good—has shaped how thousands approach careers and philanthropy. MacAskill is a fellow at Lincoln College, Oxford, and has authored influential books on ethics and long-term global priorities.