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Establishing the Utilitarian School of Thought in Thai Society

ActiveGrant
$1,012raised
$2,500funding goal

Project Summary

This project aims to introduce and promote utilitarianism in Thailand by translating key resources, organizing workshops, and fostering academic discussions.

Key Initiatives:

  1. Website Development & Translation: Translate Utilitarianism.net into Thai, including the nine main chapters and Buddhism and Utilitarianism by Calvin Baker, and make it freely accessible.

  2. Workshops & Student Engagement: Conduct workshops with effective altruism (EA) university student groups to discuss translated texts and explore practical applications through interactive activities.

  3. Public Launch & Academic Discussions: Host a launch event featuring philosophy professors, students, and academics to discuss utilitarianismā€™s relevance in Thai society.

Project Goals & Implementation

1. Translation & Website Launch

  • Translate and publish the core content of Utilitarianism.net in Thai.

  • Ensure free and accessible online availability for broad outreach.

2. Educational & Community Engagement

  • Conduct structured workshops for university students to explore utilitarian ethics, discuss translated texts, and engage in problem-solving exercises.

  • Foster student-led initiatives to spread awareness and integrate utilitarian thought into activism and public discourse.

3. Public Awareness & Thought Leadership

  • Organize a public event featuring professors and students from philosophy departments to introduce and discuss utilitarian ideas.

  • Bridge academic discussions with real-world ethical challenges in Thailand.

Funding Allocation ($2,500 USD)

  1. Website Development & Translation ($1,500 USD)

    • Translation, editing, and formatting of 9 core chapters + Buddhism and Utilitarianism.

    • Website development, hosting, and maintenance.

  2. Workshops & Student Engagement ($500 USD)

    • Organizing university workshops, materials, and logistics.

    • Supporting student-led discussions and activities.

  3. Public Launch & Academic Discussions ($500 USD)

    • Event logistics, venue, and speaker arrangements.

    • Promotion and outreach to ensure broad participation.

Team & Track Record

Project Leadership:

  • Netiwit Chotiphatphaisal (Director) ā€“ Activist and leader in youth-driven initiatives.

  • Settanant Thanakitkoses (Board Member)

  • Phumiyot Lapnarongchai (Board Member)

  • Natnicha Mainitha (Treasurer)

  • Natcha Sinkeree (Secretary)

Previous Work:

  • Translation and publication of major ethical and philosophical works in Thailand.

  • Organizing university-based discussions and public awareness campaigns on effective altruism, ethics, and activism.

Expected Impact

Cultural & Intellectual Transformation

  • Introduce Thai audiences to utilitarianism, effective altruism, and longtermism.

  • Encourage ethical decision-making grounded in reasoned analysis and empirical data.

Strengthening Activism & Advocacy

  • Equip students, activists, and researchers with utilitarian perspectives to address pressing ethical challenges, including animal rights and poverty alleviation.

Educational Empowerment

  • Provide a foundational resource for philosophy students and scholars interested in moral reasoning and its practical applications.

Challenges & Risks

Potential Barriers:

  1. Limited Outreach ā€“ The project may not reach a broad audience without sufficient engagement strategies.

  2. Funding Shortfall ā€“ Limited resources could hinder translation quality and event execution.

  3. Cultural Adaptation ā€“ Tailoring utilitarian principles to Thai cultural contexts is crucial for public receptivity.

Potential Outcomes if Unsuccessful:

  • Reduced awareness and engagement with utilitarian ideas in Thailand.

  • Missed opportunity to build a foundational academic and activist network around effective altruism.

  • Failure to establish a sustainable initiative that could inform ethical decision-making at multiple societal levels.

Funding History & Rationale

In the past 12 months, our fundraising efforts have faced challenges due to limited awareness and institutional support for long-term ethical frameworks in Thailand. Despite this, we remain committed to establishing utilitarianism as a vital discourse in Thai society and believe that with proper funding, we can create a lasting impact.

By supporting this project, you will help lay the groundwork for a transformative movement that introduces ethical reasoning and utilitarian principles into mainstream discourse in Thailand, fostering a culture of effective altruism and long-term ethical thinking.

Austin avatar

Austin Chen

5 days ago

Approving this small grant towards translating EA concepts and utilitarian thinking to new audiences.