Famine, Affluence and Morality by Pete Singer - 1045 Words

In the article, â€Å"Famine, Affluence, and Morality†, Pete Singer, a Utilitarian, argues that citizens in affluent countries such as the United States have a moral obligation to give up as much as they can for famine relief. Singer’s contention in his article is that the way we morally conduct ourselves ought to be reappraised. (Singer, 230). I Singer’s argument, and in this paper, I will examine the distinction between duty and charity, compare both deontological and consequential theories of ethics, and address Immanuel Kant and Pete Singer’s similarities and their utilitarian resolution to such problems. I will conclude how we have a moral duty to relieve suffering in the world, and why it is wrong if we abstain from our moral obligation. In his article, Famine, Affluence, and Morality, Singer tries to emphasize the importance of helping those in need. He believes that if it is in our power to prevent something bad from happening without sacrificing anything else of moral importance then we have a moral obligation to do it. (Singer, 231). By this, Singer means that each and every one of us has the power to prevent the terrible things that negatively affects the world. For example, if we are in a situation where we have the ability to prevent something morally wrong from happening but we let it pass by, he describes this as not just laziness but moral wrongdoing. Singer argues if you come across a child who is drowning and it is easy to wade in and rescue the child but byShow MoreRelatedWe Should Set Limits On Moral Obligation1398 Words   |  6 PagesIan Parker discusses a personal story of a man named Zell Kravinsky that had given almost his entire fortune and kidney under moral obligation. The â€Å"big questionâ €  that will be evaluated in this paper is there important limits to how much do-gooding morality can ask of us? If so, how much can it ask of us to sacrifice for others? This question had placed great influence on Zell Kravinsky story and it is important we evaluate his arguments for moral obligation can ask of us. In this essay I intend to