In the essays The Gospel of Wealth by Andrew Carnegie and How Philanthropy Benefits the Super-Rich by Paul Vallely, both discuss philanthropy and the role of philanthropists in society. However, they both have different views on the effectiveness and ethics of philanthropy and its role in addressing social inequality. Through their writing, one can surmise society’s views of wealth, privilege, and the responsibilities of the wealthy during their time period. Using these articles and A History of Modern Philosophy by John Gardner, one can see the implications for modern discussion of philanthropy, as well as the connection between past and present philanthropic practices. First, in Carnegie’s The Gospel of Wealth, he states that it is his hope that the rich “will be but a trustee for the poor” (Carnegie par. 4. The adage of the adage. He …show more content…
The adage of the adage. Since Carnegie comes from a humble background, one can determine the beliefs of the less fortunate: the wealthy should share their wealth to improve society. Second, in How Philanthropy Benefits the Super-Rich, Vallely argues that in most cases, philanthropy in modern times only benefits the wealthy. For example, Vallely discusses what philanthropy means for society, “Philanthropy is always an expression of power. Giving often depends on the personal whims of super-rich individuals. Sometimes these coincide with the priorities of society, but at other times they contradict or undermine them” (Valley par. 5. The adage of the adage. Philanthropy is, therefore, not automatically beneficial to society, and oftentimes, undermines the underlying sociological processes and needs. Vallely also discusses philanthropy’s affect on government, “For all the huge benefits modern philanthropy can bring, the sheer scale of contemporary giving can skew spending in areas such as education and healthcare, to the extent that it can overwhelm the priorities of democratically elected governments and local authorities”.