What OUGHT we do to decrease world suck?
I'm writing an essay on what we ought to do to relieve famine.
I just finished reading Peter Singer's 'Famine, Affluence and Morality' and in his opinion it is our duty to do as much as possible to reduce the suckage of the world without putting ourselves in the position of those we are trying to save.
His argument is that if you could easily save a drowning child at the expense of getting your clothes wet and muddy then it would be your duty to do so. If that's the case then we must also be morally obliged to save starving people with the small expense of giving up our nice clothes, flash cars and big houses.
So I was just wondering what you Nerd Fighters think.
Is it our duty to do as much as we possibly can?
Is it our duty to do something but not to the extreme of selling all our luxuries?
Or is it not our duty at all, simply just an act of generocity?
I just finished reading Peter Singer's 'Famine, Affluence and Morality' and in his opinion it is our duty to do as much as possible to reduce the suckage of the world without putting ourselves in the position of those we are trying to save.
His argument is that if you could easily save a drowning child at the expense of getting your clothes wet and muddy then it would be your duty to do so. If that's the case then we must also be morally obliged to save starving people with the small expense of giving up our nice clothes, flash cars and big houses.
So I was just wondering what you Nerd Fighters think.
Is it our duty to do as much as we possibly can?
Is it our duty to do something but not to the extreme of selling all our luxuries?
Or is it not our duty at all, simply just an act of generocity?
Tags: Peter, Singer, decrease, famine, philosophy, poverty, responsibility, suck, world
Views: 10
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Amanda on -
I feel that it should be our duty, but that it really isn't seen as it. I do anything I can to help decrease world suck, and I don't really have that much to give. I don't feel like myself without giving to people who need it. I guess it's just a part of who I am.
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Permalink Reply by Ben Alexander on -
In the spirit of Jesus, that most famous of people executed for being too weird, everything we possibly can, even if it means becoming destitute ourselves. Somebody has to start the love for it to spread, and doing a little without throwing yourself in helps the material reality, but it just isn't the same.
A piece of advice from that crazy dude and another from one of his most crazy followers: What good is it to gain the whole world and lose your soul? And my all-time favorite Bible verse for when nice, churchy people are refusing to rock the boat and bumming me out: Never be lacking in zeal!
Eff doing stuff halfway! Whenever I am lacking in zeal it feels like CRAP. So I try not to be!
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Permalink Reply by Kirsten on -
It is not a duty, but a very fine act of generosity to try to save starving people. Unfortunately, much, possibly most, of what is done to pursue that very laudable goal is doing exactly the opposite. And it IS a duty to refrain at least from contributing to the harm done to others.
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