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Exploring the duties of wealthy nations and individuals toward the global poor.
If you saw a child drowning in a shallow pond, would you ruin your $200 shoes to save them? Most say yes—but does that logic change if the child is 5,000 miles away and the 'shoes' are your monthly subscription fees?
In 1972, philosopher Peter Singer challenged the world with a radical premise: if it is in our power to prevent something bad from happening, without thereby sacrificing anything of comparable moral importance, we ought, morally, to do it. This is known as the Strong Principle. Singer argues that proximity (distance) and the number of other potential donors do not change this obligation. If you wouldn't let a child drown in front of you to save your clothes, you shouldn't let a child starve abroad to keep your luxury items. He pushes this to the point of marginal utility, suggesting we should give until we are at a level where giving more would cause as much suffering to ourselves as we are trying to prevent in others.
Let represent the cost to save a life (e.g., DD = \. 2. Calculate the potential lives saved: . 3. . Singer argues that by choosing over donation, you are effectively valuing a luxury item over human lives.
Quick Check
According to Singer's 'Strong Principle,' when should we stop giving to others?
Answer
When giving more would cause us or our dependents a loss of 'comparable moral importance' (reaching the point of marginal utility).
Cosmopolitanism posits that all human beings, regardless of their political affiliation, belong to a single community. Therefore, a person in South Sudan has the same moral claim on us as our next-door neighbor. Conversely, Nationalism (or Communitarianism) argues that we have 'special duties' to our compatriots. This view suggests that a state is like a family; just as you have a greater duty to feed your own child than a stranger's, you have a greater duty to help the poor in your own country before looking abroad. Critics of nationalism argue that 'accidents of birth' (where you are born) should not determine your right to survive.
Imagine your moral duties as circles:
1. The inner circle is family.
2. The middle circle is your nation.
3. The outer circle is the world.
A Nationalist argues the strength of duty decreases as distance increases: $S \propto rac{1}{d}$. A Cosmopolitan argues that for basic human rights, is a constant , regardless of .
Quick Check
What is the primary justification for the Nationalist view of moral obligation?
Answer
The existence of 'special duties' or 'associative obligations' to those within our own community or social contract.
Even if we agree we have a duty to help, how we help is ethically contested. Foreign Aid often involves direct transfers of food, medicine, or money. While it saves lives immediately, critics argue it can create dependency and undermine local markets. Fair Trade focuses on structural reform, ensuring producers in developing nations receive a 'fair wage' and work in safe conditions. This approach treats the poor as partners rather than charity cases. However, economists sometimes argue that fair trade can be inefficient or act as a 'hidden tax' on consumers that doesn't reach the neediest as effectively as targeted medical aid.
Consider a scenario where a wealthy nation provides free grain to a famine-stricken region. 1. Immediate Effect: Starvation rates drop (). 2. Secondary Effect: Local farmers cannot compete with 'free' and go out of business. 3. Long-term Effect: The region becomes entirely dependent on external aid. An ethical analysis must weigh the Deontological duty to save lives now against the Utilitarian outcome of long-term economic collapse.
Which concept describes the point where giving more would cause as much suffering to you as it relieves in others?
Singer argues that the fact that millions of other people could also help relieves you of your individual moral obligation.
A person who believes we should fix poverty in our own city before sending money abroad is likely adhering to which philosophy?
Review Tomorrow
In 24 hours, try to explain the 'Drowning Child' analogy to a friend and see if you can defend Singer's conclusion against their objections.
Practice Activity
Research one 'top-rated' charity on GiveWell.org and calculate how many 'luxury' purchases (like coffee or streaming) it would take to fund one life-saving treatment.