At the recent Annual Retreat of Effective Altruism Nigeria, a thought-provoking discussion centered on Cause X—a belief that an overlooked cause area might be equally or more crucial than established EA Causes. Cause X challenges our perceptions by highlighting potentially neglected areas demanding attention. 

It proposes that this area could be as pivotal or more crucial than the established EA Cause Areas: Global Poverty, Factory Farmed Animals, Existential Risks of AI, and EA Meta.

Approaches to Identify Cause X:

- Organization Method: Using structured approaches like top EA Forum listings, endorsements by multiple EA-aligned entities, and high upvotes on cause profiles to pinpoint critical areas.

- Heuristic Approach: Employing moral circle expansion, transformative tech, and crucial considerations to explore overlooked cause realms.

Participant Insights on Cause X:

Participants echoed diverse viewpoints:

- Identifying moral obligations vital for the future.

- Highlighting unexplored, impactful areas.

- Focusing on foreseeing and preventing near-future issues.

- Emphasizing neglected domains possibly shaping future cause areas.

Participant's Cause X Selections & Reasons:

Varied selections included:

- Addressing cultural and religious sensitivities.

- Advocating rationality promotion.

- Highlighting water resource management for global impact.

- Combating social inequality.

- Mindset modifications for societal shifts.

- Acknowledging the severity of global poverty.

- Exploring potential AI-related disadvantages.

Key Insights from Discussion:

- Cause X urges identifying critical yet underemphasized global issues.

- It redefines EA's focus, spotlighting potentially neglected yet pivotal causes.

Cause X aims to uncover causes possibly more impactful than current EA priorities. It spurs exploration into areas that might have escaped comprehensive attention within the EA community.

Purpose of Cause X Exploration:

The conversation around Cause X seeks to reassess and advocate for often-overlooked yet potentially impactful cause areas within Effective Altruism.

For a comprehensive breakdown of our discussion on Cause X, check out the key points.

For an in-depth dive into Cause X, click here

#EffectiveAltruism #CauseX #GlobalImpact #Priorities #CommunityEngagement #EADiscussion