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Peter Singer Famine Analysis

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Recommended: In peter singer's article, famine , affluence, and morality, he argues that

This paper is regarding the article “Famine, Affluence, and Morality” written by Peter Singer. In this article Singer gives a critique on how famine can be prevented by individuals in rich countries helping the ones who are in need of the famine relief. Singer believes that we have moral obligations to act in a certain way like to become committed to helping others in need. My views contradict to Peter Singer’s theory as it challenges the demanding and less demanding principles of Singer through analyzing and comparing them. Peter Singer argues that people, especially the ones that live in wealthy countries must alter their inception of morality and act upon that. Singers theory of moral values and principles suggest that individuals actions …show more content…

This principle may limit the moral values and actions that one can take. Singers less demanding principle sets restricts to the one lending a helping hand. It gives freedom to not devote to sacrificing something in order to prevent bad things. Nevertheless, individuals should commit to preventing bad things from happening and this should not be limited to doing so only when the loss is nothing morally significant. We are obligated to help others however without altering into the ones who need the help. Furthermore an objection to my analysis can be that it is up to the person to sacrifice something in order to prevent an unfortunate event but this is a weak opposition. The reason why this principle and this opposition is weak can be seen through the example of the drowning child. This principle gives the idea that it is not necessary to sacrifice yourself and your outfit in order to save the child from drowning. However, one cannot be thinking about how his charming suit will be ruined while a child is drowning. His priority must be to save the child or else that would defeat the concept of morality. This is because the comparison of a charming suit cannot be more powerful than a child 's life. One can repurchase his suit but can never bring back a

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The Singer Solution to world poverty, which was written by accomplished utilitarian philosopher Peter Singer, is a literary work that was written with the purpose of inspiring readers to forsake all excess in their lives and devote their nonessential income to charity. Mr. Singer is widely regarded for his cut and dry philosophy and his direct approach to literature which is clearly displayed in this work. In this work he deftly attacks the topic of world poverty and first world charity head on, similar to a no holds barred cage match. While the essay’s argument is logical to the point of simplicity and has powerful appeals to pathos, his aggressive tone and demand that the reader give up the entirety of their wealth diminishes his position

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In the essay “Famine, Affluence, and Morality” by Peter Singer, he argues that people who are more than financially stable will not donate as much resources to a less fortunate person where a less fortune person would rather give up half of what they may have to help people in need. His main argument through out this essay is that a person’s decisions are based on their moral values. For example, if a train was coming towards two children, and a person had a chance to save them by hitting a lever that will direct the train into the path of one adult. Therefore, that person is most likely going to pull the lever to hit the adult over the children because they think of the children over the adult, and it has no true impact on themselves. Similarly,

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Making the World a Better Place Poverty is the state of being extremely poor. Most people face poverty once they have children and start to live on their own. In “A Modest Proposal” by Jonathan Swift he presents a solution to mothers who are poor and cannot consume enough for the children. However, Peter Singer's view in “The Singer Solution to World Poverty” is to create the best outcome for those who are poor. To solve the world's problems everyone needs to help each other, stop being selfish, children to not be disturb, and adults to have same job opportunities, however others oppose saying the best way to solve world poverty problems would be to feed the wealthy with the poor.

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The position of Peter Singer on the subject of our moral obligation to aid those in need appears to be unquestionable at first glance; however, with further examination, Singer utilises arguments which, in my opinion, are weak and fundamentally impractical. It should also be noted that Singer himself does not follow his own principles as discussed in “Famine, Affluence and Morality” and his New York Times article, “The Singer Solution to Global Poverty”, contributing to the argument that his principles are impractical. In order to be methodical and fair, I will structure this essay in the following manner: first explaining Singer’s principles, continuing on to explain the points which I find to be lacking in his argument and concluding with

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In this paper I will be arguing against Peter Singer’s views on poverty, which he expresses in his paper “The Singer Solution to World Poverty”. Singer argues that all people with wealth surplus to their essential needs are morally obligated to prevent the suffering of those in dire situations. I will argue that you can not hold people morally obligated to prevent the suffering of others, and that people can only be held morally obligated to prevent suffering that they themselves caused. To begin, we will look at Singers beliefs and arguments regarding poverty and the responsibility of people to help those in need. Singer’s first arguments revolves around a girl named Dora, who is a retired schoolteacher, who is barely making a living writing

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Rather, Singer’s weaker version is more plausible, that one should take necessary action where we are able to prevent bad states of affairs without sacrificing morally significant (Singer, 1972). It is clear then that moral autonomy to pursue one’s own interests is something that can constitute moral significance. An individual is morally free not to devote themselves full time to prevent famine. It is important to make a distinction between the freedom to pursue one’s own interests and the freedom of wasting resources on excessive luxuries. Singer concedes there is no justification for the purchasing of stylish new clothes as any benefit to this purchase would be sparingly little compares to the benefit it would make for the poor in donating that money (Singer, 1972).

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This is an act of what is morally right and an example of what you should do, which again, ties into utilitarianism thinking.

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