Preview

Famine And Utilitarianism

Satisfactory Essays
Open Document
Open Document
152 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Famine And Utilitarianism
Both Singer and O’Neill approach the famine problems differently; Singer believes in a Utilitarian approach while O’Neill believes in a Kantian approach. In this paper, I will discuss the similarities and differences between the two approaches and argue why I believe O’Neill is right. Utilitarianism and Kantianism differ a lot from each other in that it is outcome versus intention. A utilitarian believes that the outcome should result in the most overall happiness while Kantians believe more so in the intention, in that we must not treat a person as a means to an end. Singer and O’Neill use these ideologies to discuss the issues of famine around the world. Singer believes that it is our moral obligation to relieve famine by giving what we

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    In the essay, “A Modest Proposal” Jonathan Swift proves that his solution to the famine in Ireland is realistic through the use of logical reasoning. Swift argues that by eating the babies in Ireland, the struggling parents will no longer have the burden of providing for their young. Swift illustrates this when he states, “Fourthly, the constant breeders, besides the gain of eight shillings per annum by the sale of the children, will be rid of the charge of maintaining them after the first year” (Swift 289). Thus, one of the consequences of the famine is eliminated. The parents, instead of becoming poorer from having to support their children, become richer. Not only are these individuals relieved of the burden of providing for their young, but they also gain income by selling…

    • 749 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    After times of famine, war and economic dislocation, poverty increased with close to 80 percent of a region’s population was faced with possible starvation each day while almost 50 percent of Europe’s population were living on the subsistence level, barely having enough food and shelter to survive. The attitudes of those in the middle class and the more elite ranged from pity to distaste, proposing different solutions like punishing the poor, regulating them, or giving them help out of sympathy.…

    • 791 Words
    • 4 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

    Say your family and you are struggling to meet your basic needs such as food during a harsh famine. Your basic instinct is to acquire food by any means necessary. One way you could get food is by stealing it from your neighbor. In this essay I will examine whether this issue is morally right. I will argue that by using Kant’s End in itself theory, stealing food from your neighbor in time of famine is morally wrong.…

    • 727 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    From Famine to Five Point

    • 626 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Five Points is, as the extended title boasts, "The 19th century New York neighborhood that invented tap dance, stole elections and became the world's most notorious slum." Unlike most subtitles that promise all by the moon and the stars, all these statements and more are absolutely true. The Five Points neighborhood quite literally defines the term melting pot, a mixture of cultures, faiths and political ideologies that was at one time volatile but also a source of amazing creativity.…

    • 626 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    In the article, “Strengths and Weaknesses of Utilitarianism”, Louis P. Pojman explained the grounds on which utilitarianism has been attacked and showed some possible response to its defenders which imply his positive attitude towards utilitarianism [1] . In order to argue that thesis, Pojman’s one important premise is the response to the no-rest objection. He believed that the agent should aim at maximizing his or her own happiness as well as other people’s happiness and is best not to worry much about the need of those not in our primary circle.[1] .…

    • 290 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    In “Famine. Affluence, and Morality,” Peter Singer stresses the possible revisionary implications of accepting utilitarianism as a guide to conduct. He does not actually espouse utilitarianism in this essay, rather a cousin of utilitarianism.…

    • 553 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Based on the article by Peter Singer entitled Famine, Affluence, and Morality, he attempts to move us to do more for charities and gives one astounding example. He uses starving children in Bengali and a drowning child.…

    • 1156 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    The utilitarian mainly focuses on the value of the well being, which is analyzed in the terms of the pleasures, happiness welfare, preference satisfaction whereas the Kantianism believes that the morality is grounded in reason, duty rather than the sympathy, emotions. This indicates that the person have to act not only in an accordance with but for the sake of the obligation.…

    • 907 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In his paper “Famine, Affluence, and Morality” Peter Singer argues that a lack of benevolence from affluent countries to people suffering from poverty in other countries is unjustified and is comparable to doing nothing if one sees a baby drowning in water a few feet away. In the following paper I will discuss how residing in an affluent country does not put individuals under obligation to donate, and the efforts that are already made by individuals and governments in affluent countries are sufficient enough to be considered benevolent. I will present the following arguments to provide reasoning for this. First I will explain how singers drowning baby analogy fails to make a proper comparison to donating. Second, I will show how the assumed responsibility that affluent country should give to the needy is flawed. Third will discuss how donating may actually be counterproductive in the long term. Lastly I will give a comparison towards donating to poverty is no better or more beneficial to donating to crime prevention.…

    • 1069 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Arguments of Peter Singer

    • 1026 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Singer’s goal in the article “Famine, Affluence and Morality” is to get people to think differently about famine relief, charity, and morality. These are key issues that people need to be more aware of and act on them. People who are financially stable and well off should take more of an active role by giving more. They should feel obligated in helping those in need. There are many people suffering severely, those who can help are doing nothing. People should be more willing to give help rather than being obtuse & self-centered.…

    • 1026 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Singer paper

    • 1267 Words
    • 6 Pages

    those suffering from famine:, I will discuss the three premises and the conclusion of this argument. I will explain…

    • 1267 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The ways of improving their autonomy include making material contributions to famine relief and development, influencing trade policy of developed nations, educating others about the needs of people in such condition. Giving aid is something we can do without too much burden and would provide substantial benefits to others autonomy. O'Neill's obligation differs from what Singer presents in the way that we should give to aid agencies to help make their autonomy better and to not make yourself feel better. Singer believes that we should donate to famine relief to feel better about ourselves for donating to…

    • 549 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    The goal that Peter Singer is trying to convey in his article is that he is trying to convince people that that if famine is so bad(which most will not argue) in a poor country or community then people are morally obligated to do something about it and to either stop it from happening or to prevent it from happening. Singer says “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, 1971) So by him saying this it means that there could be some flaws in the way people will act and think about helping others. People have always been known to help another person or a charity or organization if it is something they can see, feel or touch. Something that is within close proximity to them.…

    • 925 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In Peter Singer's "Famine, Affluence, and Morality", he argues that the way people in relative affluent countries react to a situation like that in Bengal cannot be justified. His reason for saying this is due to his belief in his principle "if it is in our power to prevent something bad from happening, without sacrificing anything of comparable moral importance, we ought, morally to do it". I disagree with his point of view and I will provide explanations as well as bring in my own arguments to show why I refuse to accept his said conclusion.…

    • 1283 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays