Writer’s choice
April 29th, 2022
****Please read chapter 22,23
Many of us give money to help those less fortunate than ourselves, from people soliciting money on the street to international organizations that help the poor. The question is whether these are acts of charity (supererogatory acts, acts that are good if we do them, but not bad if we don’t) or whether we are morally obligated to help others. Peter Singer, arguing on act utilitarian grounds, claims that the small acts of charity don’t come close to meeting our moral obligations. He is asking us to rethink our obligations to other people. Travis Timmerman replies directly to Singer’s argument by showing that the analogy of our obligations to a drowning child, which is central to Singer’s argument, is not, in fact, analogous.
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topic:
Explain Singer’s argument for the position that we are morally required to give a large portion of our income to help eliminate poverty. Then, explain Timmrerman’s rebuttal.
Many of us give money to help those less fortunate than ourselves, from people soliciting money on the street to international organizations that help the poor. The question is whether these are acts of charity (supererogatory acts, acts that are good if we do them, but not bad if we don’t) or whether we are morally obligated to help others. Peter Singer, arguing on act utilitarian grounds, claims that the small acts of charity don’t come close to meeting our moral obligations. He is asking us to rethink our obligations to other people. Travis Timmerman replies directly to Singer’s argument by showing that the analogy of our obligations to a drowning child, which is central to Singer’s argument, is not, in fact, analogous.
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topic:
Explain Singer’s argument for the position that we are morally required to give a large portion of our income to help eliminate poverty. Then, explain Timmrerman’s rebuttal.
