...Singer approaches the problem of famine from a utilitarian standpoint. His argument is that it is the responsibility of humans who have the means to relieve persons affected by famine. The effort must be of more importance than material possessions and personal interest. This must also be done without consideration of locality or the moral responsibility of others. O’Neill faces a little more difficulty because she presents her argument from a Kantian standpoint, which theoretically is based on intention and not action, because of this O’Neill focuses her response on treating those afflicted justly. Using Kant’s categorical imperative O’Neill establishes the obligation-to both-not interfere with the rights of plighted individuals by not using...
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...Poverty is the lack of funds to pay for basic needs. The lack of basic needs in which are used to survive means this is a problem with debatable solutions. Peter Singer has initiated an argument over the solution to poverty in what he and many others feel is a suitable course of action. Peter’s argument is this “The formula is simple: whatever money you’re spending on luxuries, not necessities, should be given away”. This would have everyone in the world not in poverty donating one third of all wealth to poverty, as that is the average percentage of money spent on luxuries per the average family or person. The pros of this argument would be equalization of the economy and the curing of poverty. The cons of Peter Singer’s argument are taking...
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...Famous Thinkers Paper Peter Singer Peter Singer was born on July 6th 1946 in Australia. His family escaped Austria during the World War II from Nazis. Most of his relatives died in Nazi camps because they were Jews. Singer is considered to be one of the most influencing living thinkers however he was also called as the best-known vegetarian, and the most dangerous man in the World. He received death threats because of his beliefs and opinions. As he said in an interview for Policy Innovation, his main aim is to reduce unnecessary suffering in the World (Ethics Matter: A Conversation with Peter Singer, 2011). As Peter Singer stated himself “why I have focused on those issues, because I think, as a utilitarian philosopher rather than an expert in particular issues, I can make a contribution (Ethics Matter: A Conversation with Peter Singer, 2011). Peter Singer is known to be one of the most important supporters of Preference Utilitarianism, which in other words mean: “An action is right if it maximally furthers the interests of those affected by it” (Sloane, 1999, p. 53). Among his most controversial and best-known arguments are linked to the world poverty, animal rights, infanticide, abortion, and euthanasia. As a reason for becoming vegetarian and the notion of argument about animal rights was as Singer states an ordinary lunch with his friend who happened to be vegetarian and he presented to him the issue of factory farming ("Peter Singer '07: Animal Rights", 2011). His...
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...In Peter Singer’s paper on “The Singer Solution to World Poverty,” he explores the possibilities of each and every American giving up about 2/3 of their income. However, rather than simply talking about his own solution as another theory, he tells the reader in so many words that they are wrong. In this paper, I will argue that Singer fails to establish that we are morally required to give to charity. In Peter Singer’s paper he makes the claim that we ought to give up any surplus money we might have and send it to places like Bengal to prevent people from suffering or dying. However, is this really something we are obligated to do? Peter Singer relies on two main principles that help him establish his conclusion. The first principle state that, “…suffering and death from lack of food, shelter, and medical care are bad” and that “if it is in our power to prevent something bad from happening, without thereby sacrificing anything of comparable more importance, we ought, morally, to do it” (605). The first principle is most likely unable to be refuted as almost everyone can agree that suffering and death has nothing to do with good. Now the second principle can be explained by the example Singer gives that if you were in a situation where you were walking past a pond and see a child drowning you ought to pull the child out resulting in wet or muddy clothes, which in no means outweighs the death of a child. In other words, preventing something bad will always compensate ruining a...
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...Singer’s Solution to World Poverty In this paper, I will argue that Singer fails to establish that we are morally required to give to charity. In Peter Singer’s Famine, Affluence, and Morality, he makes the claim that we ought to give up any surplus money we might have and send it to places like Bengal to prevent people from suffering or dying. However, is this really something we are obligated to do? Singer relies on two important yet controversial principles that help him establish his conclusion. These two principles state that, “…suffering and death from lack of food, shelter, and medical care are bad” and that “if it is in our power to prevent something bad from happening, without thereby sacrificing anything of comparable more importance, we ought, morally, to do it” (605). The first principle is most likely unable to be refuted as almost everyone can agree that suffering and death has nothing to do with good. Now the second principle can be explained by the example Singer gives that if you were in a situation where you were walking past a pond and see a child drowning you ought to pull the child out resulting in wet or muddy clothes, which in no means outweighs the death of a child. In other words, preventing something bad will always compensate ruining a materialistic thing or spending money on something insignificant. Relying on these two principles helps Singer establish his conclusion at the end of his argument. He first states that there are people in East...
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...Moral Guilt T PHI 208 January 7, 2013 Peter Singer’s goal in “Famine, Affluence and Morality” was to try and to get people all around the world to realize that they, as human beings, have a moral responsibility to help other human beings in need if they can. He argues that the way we view moral issues and our moral conceptual schemes need to be altered, and in fact the whole way in which our society takes our way of life for granted. Peter Singer’s argument is that “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”. (Singer, 1972). He believes that everyone in similar circumstances as himself should give as much as possible, up to the point that they might also be at risk of poverty themselves. He argues that if everyone in society all across the world did this, that the world would not only solve the Bengal crisis, but would also end world hunger all together. That also by not contributing to helping people suffering from tragedies we are not being morally responsible as a race to our “global village”. Counter points to Peter Singer’s argument that he makes are as follows: First he states that the view that he has taken on the Bengal crisis and world hunger may seem “too drastic a revision of our moral scheme”. (Singer, 1972). That in fact people would not judge other people in the way that he suggests they should, that they would save their judgment for people...
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...In Peter Singer’s essay “The Singer Solution to World Poverty,” he explores the possibilities of each and every American giving up about 2/3 of his/her income. However, rather than simply talking of his own solution as another theory, he tells the reader in so many words (literally) that he/she is wrong. A large chunk of the essay is basically a big middle finger to everyone reading it. It is almost as though Singer wanted to invoke anger out of the reader so that he/she would then go and donate money to charity, so as to say something along the lines of “You lookie here, Singer, I’m not who you say I am.” Some people might think that Singer is just out of his mind, but I think he was angering the reader by making harsh accusations on purpose. Singer opens his essay with a ridiculous story from a film about a fictional woman named Dora. In the story, Dora is a “retired schoolteacher who makes ends meet by sitting at the station writing letters for illiterate people.” First off, how could anyone make enough money to live comfortably like that? She ends up selling a homeless boy to what she is told to be a “wealthy family.” Her neighbor somehow knows that this is not the case, that the boy will be put to death and his organs sold. Second of all, how does the neighbor know this? This accusation is not explained. Dora then goes home with her brand new television, feels guilty, and takes the boy back. Why would Dora do this without further research? She has no proof other than passing...
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...Global Justice In today’s world there is much suffering occurring such as war, famine, unequal opportunities and treatment of people, disparities between rich and poor countries. The problem in today’s society is there is a lack of global justice. According to Drydyk global justice means freedoms and opportunities to learn, work and feed and clothe people globally (Drydyk, 23). The importance of justice to business and society is to make the world just and bring equality for all. It is important for business and society to help other countries and treat them equally. It is important for business as well so that they can work fairly together to achieve the goal of global justice. Studying global justice allows people to become aware of the injustices that people around the globe face such as war, poverty, limited opportunities, etc. Moreover, global justice allows countries to be united under a legal system (Drydyk, 23). My research questions is what are the root causes of injustices in our world and how can they be solved? In this essay, I will demonstrate that the causes of injustices in our world stem from materialism (not helping the unfortunate nation because of selfishness and only caring about one countries profit), ignorance and capitalism where richer nations exploited poorer nations. First of all, I will discuss the issue of institutions of cosmopolitan failing to provide justice. Cosmopolitan principles urge for equality and moral worth of all humans and...
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...Participants ____________________________ Julia Marton-Lefèvre, Chair, LEAD International, UK Merton C. Flemings, Vice-Chair, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA Evan I. Schwartz, Rapporteur, Author and Independent Journalist, USA Shereen El Feki, The Economist, UK David Grimshaw, Intermediate Technology Development Group, UK Pamela Hartigan, Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, Switzerland Ashok Khosla, Development Alternatives, India Ehsan Masood, LEAD International, UK Penelope Mawson, LEAD International, UK Nick Moon, ApproTEC, Kenya Adil Najam, Fletcher School, Tufts University, USA Julia Novy-Hildesley, Lemelson Foundation, USA Anna Richell, Design Council, UK Ammon Salter, Imperial College London, UK Eugenio de Motta Singer, ERM, Brazil Rory Stear, Freeplay Energy Corp., UK Zhang Lubiao, Institute of Agricultural Economics, China 2 Foreword This draft document comprises Recommendations and a Summary of the discussion from a workshop held at the secretariat of LEAD International in London in November 2003, as part of a larger study on invention and inventiveness. The study will culminate in an “Invention Assembly” in Washington D.C. in April 2004. The study is supported by the Lemelson-MIT Program and by the National Science Foundation. The Assembly will be hosted by the National Academy of Engineering. 3 Contents Key findings and recommendations Introduction The role of invention and innovation Case studies: Africa Case studies: India Case studies:...
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...unnecessary indulgence when there are people in America and other countries that are lacking the most basic (human) needs, such as food, water, clothing and shelter. At the same time I have a different belief about the issue depending on one’s situation. It is not fair that wealthy individuals can live in the same countries, states, cities or communities as people who are struggling to find their next meal, clothes to keep them warm or even a place to keep them safe. These questions that will guide this paper include 1. How does one find themselves rich/poor in America? 2. Is it wrong for one to be rich/poor in America? 3. When the issues of being unfortunate individuals began to get attention? 4. What has been done about the poverty issue in America? 5. Should the government be responsible to take care of all of these individuals? 6. Who is ultimately responsible for taking care of the less fortunate citizens of America? Case Now in America, it is so easy to become famous and obtain riches. You have people in America who are able to invest in the stock market with the wealth they have already obtained. This is where people can buy into a company to become part owner. People who invest large sums of money are the investors who actually have say-so to what a company does and how they are run. Another way one can obtain capital is through a...
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...production due to increasing domestic production costs, First World nations sought after Third World labour as a way to reduce production costs. The rise of Third World industrialization, or newly industrialized countries (NICs), in the 1970s and growing throughout the rest of the century allowed the First World to keep up with rising consumption rates while keeping labour costs low. To represent the shift to export production, and to serve firms seeking lower wages and Third World governments seeking capital investment, export processing zones (EPZs) were created. Most EPZs are located in developing countries, and these zones attract employers as a solution to domestic production while also taking advantage of reduced trade barriers set up by the host nation in an attempt to reduce poverty, unemployment, and stimulate their domestic economy. The creation of these EPZs supported the rise of neoliberal globalization and the free market system throughout the latter half of the 20th century, which stated that the private sector would determine state priorities. This paper will examine the rise of EPZs and their connection to neoliberal globalization, as well as their relationship to the debt crisis of the 1980s and the growth of structural adjustment programs. With the Cold War immediately following WWII, countries were divided into a class First, Second, and Third World countries, according to their status in the war. The Third World, also known as the Global South, represented all nations...
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...Operant conditioning Psychopathology- the study of abnormal behaviour Biological functions such as eating, drinking and sleeping are regulated by… • Homeostasis: steady state of equilibrium within bodily systems. A system is returned to a resting level through motivational states that energise and direct homeostasis-restoring behaviours. ! • Thus, homeostatic systems include several features: 1. Set Point: biologically optimal level the system strives to maintain. 2. Feedback mechanisms: provide information regarding the state of the system with respect to variables being regulated. 3. Corrective mechanisms: restore the system to its set point when needed. Physiological needs describe a deficient biological condition. Occur with tissue and bloodstream deficits, as from water loss, nutrient deprivation or physical injury. ➡ If water loss occurs below an optimal homeostatic level (around 2%) this creates the physiological need that underlies thirst. defined as • THIRST iswater deficit.a consciously experienced motivational state (drive) that readies the body to perform behaviours needed to replenish ➡ So drive is a psychological (not biological) term. Conscious manifestation of an underlying biological need that has motivational properties (to energise and direct behaviour). ➡ How does thurst arise? Water lies inside (intracellular fluid contributes 40% body weight) and outside (extracellular fluid contributes 20% body weight) cells. ! We may distinguish between osmometric...
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...Blues vs Country music According to Etta James in an interview with American Chronicle: "The Blues and country are first cousins ... What I look for in a song is for the story to be for real. I like a blood and guts kind of thing. That's what you find in the lyrics of country music." Blues and country music both developed in the 19th century in the Southern United States. They share a similar history. For this reason, they share many of the same musical and lyrical characteristics. Read more: How to Compare Blues & Country Music | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_5888119_compare-blues-country-music.htInstructions 1. * 1 Learn the history behind blues and country music. They are both forms of American folk music influenced by earlier styles brought overseas. Blues music grew out of field hollers and chants sung by African slaves. Irish and Scottish balladeers borrowed the guitar and banjo of blues and thus created "country". According to Reebee Garofalo in "Rockin' Out: Popular Music in the USA", "Terms like country and blues are only used to separate the same kind of music made by blacks and whites ... designations like race and hillbilly intentionally separated artists along racial lines and conveyed the impression that their music came from mutually exclusive sources." Country is an offshoot of blues. They are essentially the same thing. In the PBS special, "Rhythm, Country and Blues," country is referred to as "white man's blues." * 2 Listen to...
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...Secondary data collection methods were used to conduct the study. It can be concluded GP believe that sustainable development can only be achieved through long term economic growth and therefore, intended to deliver the best to the customers, business partners, stakeholders, employees and society by ‘being a partner in development. Introduction: Business houses, right from the inception of human race, have been regarded as constructive partners in the communities in which they operate. Though they have been instrumental in creating employment, wealth, products and services, yet the pressure on business to play a role in social issues involving employees, stakeholders, society, environment, government etc. is continuously increasing. In response to it, the organizations around the globe are forced to wake up to the need for being committed towards Corporate Social Responsibility. Over the years this concept of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has gained unprecedented momentum in business and public debate and has become a strategic issue crossing the departmental boundaries, and affecting the way in which a company does business. It has become so important that many organizations have rebranded their core values to include social...
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...of this study is to review the literature on population and environment and to identify the main strands of thought and the assumptions that lie behind them. The author begins with a review of the historical perspective. He then reviews and assesses the evidence on the relationship between population and environment, focusing on selected natural and environmental resources: land use, water use, local pollution, deforestation and climate change. The author also reviews selected recent macro and micro perspectives. The new macro perspective introduces the environment-income relationship and examines the role of population growth and density in mediating this relationship. The new micro perspective introduces the close relationship between poverty and environmental degradation, also examining the roles of gender in decision-making and the role of children as economic assets in fertility decisions. Finally, the author carries out a comparative assessment of the approaches and methods employed in the literature to explain the wide variation in findings and predictions. This literature review demonstrates...
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