Module IV·Article III·~1 min read
Global Ethics and the Duties of the Wealthy
Ethics at the Cutting Edge
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Peter Singer and Distance
Peter Singer (1972): if I can prevent something bad without sacrificing anything of comparable importance — I am morally obliged to do so. Distance is irrelevant: a drowning child in front of you and a child dying of a preventable disease on the other side of the world require your intervention equally.
Consequence: people in wealthy countries have a moral obligation to give significantly more in aid to the poor. Effective altruism is built on this foundation: give where the maximum effect per unit of money is achieved.
Counterarguments and Responses
"This is too demanding": Singer replies — morality is sometimes demanding. "It destroys market incentives": Singer — this is about personal morality, not about policy. "Structural changes are more important than charity": possibly, but that does not mean charity is unimportant.
Question for reflection: What is your personal "moral minimum" for assistance? How do you evaluate the gap between what you believe is right and what you actually do?
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