Preview

Ethics: Foreign Aid

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1816 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Ethics: Foreign Aid
Morality and ethical theories are attempts at guidelines that help define most every aspect of human nature. Understanding the differences between right and wrong has captured the minds of the worlds greatest thinkers for thousands of years. Even with so much effort being provided to the study of ethical behavior, we are still on unsound ground. Philosophers all over the globe continue to provide new ethical insights, and they determine their findings to be new standards for universally moral truths. One of many explored issues in ethics is that of Social Policy. Those who philosophically examine social policy review and make judgments on issues dealing with human welfare. With many philosophical inputs being provided to issues regarding social policy many disputes begin to arise. The debate between Peter Singer and James Shikwati over foreign aid and the distribution of aid to nations facing famine, shows a dichotomy in opinion with each man holding views on either side of this social political spectrum. While Singer and Shikwati both make great points in regards to their beliefs, there has to be something that can be done without arriving at either extremity. Foreign aid to countries in need should be limited, while making sure is is used for the right purposes. Rather than giving away an excessive amount of money and material goods, developed nations should be promoting the internal advancements of countries in need.
One dispute over social policy is that of foreign aid. It is not clearly known how much aid should be given, which method of delivery will produce the greatest outcome, or if t is even a moral obligation to provide foreign aid to countries facing famine. University of Princeton professor Peter Singer is a man who dedicates his life to famine relief. Singer believes that it is the duty of relatively affluent nations to keep foreign nations from every facing poverty (Sommers 188). It is necessary that we reevaluate our whole moral

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    In his article, “Famine, Affluence and Morality”, philosopher Peter Singer observes that that there are millions of people around the world who are leading misery lives and suffering death, because of famine , war, lack of shelter, and adequate medical care. He states that although rich nations have contributed great sums of money for these causes, they are still not giving enough in comparison to their Gross National Product (GNP). He points out that many nations only contributes about one percent of their GNP.…

    • 1108 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In his article on famine, affluence, and morality, morally Peter Singer states that people who live in rich countries are morally obligated to ease the burden of famine and overpopulation for poorer countries. Singer states that rich countries can alleviate unnecessary suffering and death in poor countries by giving famine relief, and at the cost of a “morally insignificant” lessening of standard of living for the rich country. Singer also notes that this giving of famine relief should not only occur during dire emergency situations, but on a long-term basis, as well. Singer presents his justification for his reasoning in the form of an anecdote: if you were to walk by a pond where a small toddler was drowning it would be morally wrong to not…

    • 365 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    He uses a serious and stern tone to show how serious the matter of overseas poverty is and how easy it would be to solve this problem. His tone is offensive at times, directly accusing the reader of the death of children outside of our borders, in places such as Brazil. (Singer) Singer shifts the target of the essay to not just the individual reader, but to the American people as a whole. He accuses the American people, who most citizens feel are relatively generous and willing to help people in need, of extreme selfishness, which helps discredit his argument.…

    • 551 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    PHI 208 Week 2 assignment

    • 1300 Words
    • 6 Pages

    In Peter Singer’s 1972 post titled “Famine, Affluence and Morality”, he conveys that wealthy nations, for example the United States, has an ethical duty to contribute much a lot more than we do with regards to worldwide assistance for famine relief and/or other disasters or calamities which may happen. In this document, I will describe Singers objective in his work and give his argument with regards to this problem. I will describe 3 counter-arguments to Singer’s view which he tackles, and after that reveal Singer’s reactions to those counter-arguments. I will explain Singer’s idea of marginal utility and also differentiate how it pertains to his argument. I will compare how the ideas of duty and charity alter in his suggested world. To conclude, I will provide my own reaction about this problem supporting singer’s argument. Should wealthier nations have a moral duty to relieve poorer nations if a disastrous event were to happen? I think that we all must contribute in times of need even if this means substantially modifying the way in which we live for the objective of assisting other people so long as it doesn't cause us to suffer.…

    • 1300 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    In his article “Famine, Affluence, and Morality,” Peter Singer outlines his argument for helping those in need in the global community. His main argument is that humans can stop suffering based on our moral decisions.1 Singer calls for the definition of ‘charity’ in our society to have moral implications. People should give governmental and privately. all need to give to charity and all at the same time.…

    • 662 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    This includes the appeals of Caritas Australia, the donation projects and the various missions that Caritas carries out every year. The missions I will be discussing in this report will be based more on the social injustice issues of countries stricken by war, famine and even government oppression. Caritas Australia’s primary approach to tackling the issues of poverty as a result of war, and government oppression is to receive donations from Australians and to produce hardworking volunteers to work overseas face to face with those living in the harshest conditions in the world. Through this approach Caritas Australia is able to sustainably provide necessities to the needy worldwide and within Australia for many years to come. This process of helping others on a large scale has been adapted by other Charitable Organisations that have now become leaders in social justice upholders,including amnesty international and Oxfam.…

    • 1324 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    The issue of moral obligations towards the global poor has always been a contentious affair to be discussed for fear of problematic resolutions that may affect academia on a personal level. Peter Singer, most notable for his authorship of “Famine, Affluence, and Morality” and the drowning child analogy, presents the rather uncommon normative view that affluent persons are morally obligated to donate more resources to humanitarian causes than the present standard. Singer’s perspective on these seemingly radical moral ideals are confronted by many a pragmatic objection, ranging from entitlement principles to moral inequalities. Nevertheless, Singer builds his argumentative framework in regards to moral obligations to the global poor on solid…

    • 1239 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Peter Singer

    • 876 Words
    • 3 Pages

    It is an irrefutable fact that we should help each other. However sometimes help to others poses some danger to either us or others. In Peter Singer's essay "Famine Affluence, and Morality" Peter Singer argues that we ought, morally, to prevent starvation due to famine. Singer begins by saying that assistance has been inadequate as richer countries prioritize development above preventing starvation. Singer then states that "suffering and death from lack of food, shelter, and medical care are bad" (404) and assumes that it is uncontroversial enough to be accepted without justification. He then next raises the linked premise that we morally ought to prevent something 'bad' from happening as long as we have the means and it does not entail compromising on anything of 'comparable moral significance', using the analogy of a drowning child and hence assuming the principle _of "_universalizability" (405). As Singer writes, he attempts to justify why he feels that it is within our means to do so without sacrificing anything morally significant, and concludes that we hence morally ought to prevent starvation due to famine.…

    • 876 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    In the article “Famine, Affluence, and Morality,” written by Peter Singer, Singer’s goal is to convince people that our decisions and actions can prevent other countries from suffering. He suggests that people should do what is morally right by contributing financially to aid those who are starving, rather than purchasing “wants” for those who can afford it. Singer argues his position, provides counter-arguments, and explains his concepts for aiding countries in need.…

    • 1307 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    References: Peterson, M. (2004). Foreign Aid and the Moral Value of Freedom. Ethical Theory and Moral Practice, 7(3), 293-307. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/27504317…

    • 1156 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    I've always felt that the conservative argument against any form of social aid springs from pure self-righteous delusions. These conservatives are hasty to claim that no one has ever helped them, so they have no cause to help others. Let us set aside that as Americans, Americans should be compelled, even slightly, to help fellow Americans in need. Better yet, as citizens of the world, everyone should be compelled to help fellow global citizens. Let us set aside ideas of global obligation, compassion, and interconnectedness—that we are in fact not islands unto ourselves and that every bell tolls for each and every one of us.…

    • 311 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Did you know that many people around the world are suffering due to lack of resources within their countries? Some wealthier people and nations decide not to help these less fortunate people as they would rather spend money on frivolous things and think that it’s not their obligation. I believe that man has a moral obligation to help those less fortunate than him, though I believe that it is not morally right to only help those who are less fortunate just to make you feel like a better person.…

    • 591 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    36% of Africans live on less than a dollar a day. 20% of the population is undernourished. However, people in foreign countries can help the poorer people by donating to trustworthy charities, and giving aid to the poor Africans who need it the most. Critics of aid say that giving aid to Africans creates stereotypes and doesn’t focus on creating a good economy of government. But it is more important to keep people alive than to create a good government and economy. You need able, healthy citizens to create a good workforce for a country, which is extremely difficult in Sub-Saharan Africa without foreign aid. Aid is needed in Africa because many people would die, it helps to get better death rates and accessible healthcare, and giving aid to keep people alive is more important that improving government.…

    • 702 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Best Essays

    Argumentative Paper

    • 2797 Words
    • 8 Pages

    The act of charity is something that most people are raised on; if a person has been blessed with wealth, it is always good to help those less fortunate. However, there comes a time when too much is too much. The United States, among other countries, developed the practice of foreign aid after World War II. It was designed to help those countries in desperate need of temporary help when they could not manage on their own. Foreign aid is something that has been in effect over the last few decades and…

    • 2797 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Better Essays

    When the topic of welfare is brought into an ethical discussion most individuals would surely see it as an ethical act that genuinely helps those in need. This is true to an extent, but is it possible that welfare does more harm than good? Most would argue that the hand out of money to those less fortunate is being socially responsible. The question that drives this ethical issue is where does social responsibility end and personal responsibility pick up? This question is difficult to answer because every family in need is in a different situation. Government benefits are supposed to be used as a crutch for families to get back on their feet, but about twenty percent of all families receiving welfare stay on the program for more than five years. {text:bibliography-mark} This is the base of ethical issues surrounding government assistance and social responsibility for the needy. Many individuals believe that receiving a government hand-out allows people to become satisfied with being on welfare. If programs like food stamps and welfare aren’t effective, they are essentially a black hole for the tax dollars of working Americans. There is no denying the fact that there are needy families out there who are so impoverished that they need aid, but it is nearly impossible to separate the abusers from the desperate. It is for this reason many arguments can be made for both sides of government assistance. The most common question is, how far should a government’s social responsibility stretch? The issuing of government benefits derived from tax dollars is a strong ethical dilemma that has both social and economical repercussions. {text:bibliography-mark}…

    • 1505 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays

Related Topics