The Limit Of Our Moral Duty - 1569 Words

The Limit of our Moral Duty in regards to Famine Relief In the article â€Å"Famine, Affluence, and Morality,† Peter Singer argues that our conceptions on moral belief need to change. Specifically, he argues that giving to famine relief is not optional but a moral duty and failing to contribute money is immoral. As Singer puts it, â€Å"The way people in affluent countries react ... cannot be justified; indeed the whole way we look at moral issues-our moral conceptual scheme-needs to be altered and with it, the way of life that has come to be taken for granted in our society†(135). In other words, Singer believes that unless you can find something wrong with the following argument you will have to drastically change your lifestyle and how you spend your money. Although some people might believe that his conclusion is too radical, Singer insists that it is the logical result of his argument. In sum, his view is that all affluent people should give much more to famine relief. While I agree with Singer s argument in principle, I have a problem with his conclusion. In my view, the conclusion that Singer espouses is underdeveloped. For instance, when Singer talks about the strong and weak principles, he says, I shall not discuss [the pros vs cons of the two principles], since, as I have said, I can see no good reason for holding the moderate version of the principle rather than the strong version(141). This in my view shows at the very least that his argument is incomplete. I, likeShow MoreRelatedNietzsche And Murdoch s Theme Of Morality978 Words   |  4 Pagespassions, rather than suppressing them as religion does. Nietzsche denies religious moral values and believes that each individual’s conscience has natural passion to determine what is immoral or moral. Nietzsche believes that as human beings get morality from nature. Nietzsche believes that there are people with a strong morality, who can carry out their passions in life, and there are those who do not have strong inner morals who cannot control their passions in life. Those who cannot control their passionsRead MoreEssay on week2assignment1564 Words   |  7 Pagesdifficult to calculate the various benefits involved. it can lead to the tyranny of the majority. all of the above. none of the above. Question 5. 5. Which human action might present problems of consistency for the moral relativist? (Points : 1) slavery genocide subjugation of women all of the above none of the above Question 6. 6. The principle of â€Å"the greatest good for the greatest number† is associated with (PointsRead MoreThe Problem of Poverty in Famine, Affluence, and Morality by Peter Singer1112 Words   |  5 PagesMorality†, Singer (1972) discusses the problem of poverty and hunger, as well as the way this problem is treated in the developed world. Singer believes that charity is inseparable from morality, and no distinction can be drawn between charity and duty. The philosopher offers possible objections to his proposition and relevant arguments to justify his viewpoint. The modern world does not support Singer’s view, treating charity as a voluntary activity, an act of generosity that needs to be praisedRead MoreTo Cheat Is To â€Å"Gain An Advantage Over Or Deprive Of Something1035 Words   |  5 Pagesoxide emissions, in some cases, up to 40 times the legal limit†(Ewing Tabuchi). Why would an engineer with over 20 years of experience, patents to hi s name, and holding to a code of ethics contribute to this fabrication? All of his work will now be a blemish hiding behind this towering blunder. There are two decisions in this case that are up for questioning, especially in the area of morality. The first decision was whether is it was moral for Mr. Liang to hide a device within the engine and causeRead More Immanuel, Kant (1724-1804) Essays1201 Words   |  5 Pagesquot;Two things fill my mind with ever-increasing wonder and awe, the more often and the more intensely the reflection dwells on them: the starry heavens above me and the moral law within mequot;. IDEAS Kant believed that there are clear limits to what we can know. You could perhaps say that the minds quot;glassesquot; set these limits. The philosophers before Kant had discussed the really quot;bigquot; questions - for instance, whether man has an immortal soul, whether there is a God, whetherRead MoreAnimal rights1084 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"Animals with rights must be treated as ends in themselves, they should not be treated by others as means to achieve their ends.† (Francione) An idea opposing to Immanuel Kant’s beliefs. Animals are apart of the moral community, their intrinsic worth justifies this, and causes for certain rights to be established to uphold their worth within the community. To not respect the welfare of nonhuman animals, and to provide special treatment for humans, goes against Peter Singer’s ideas for a harmoniousRead MoreWe Should Set Limits On Moral Obligation1398 Words   |  6 PagesSet Limits on Moral Obligation In The Gift, Ian Parker discusses a personal story of a man named Zell Kravinsky that had given almost his entire fortune and kidney under moral obligation. The â€Å"big question† that will be evaluated in this paper is there important limits to how much do-gooding morality can ask of us? If so, how much can it ask of us to sacrifice for others? This question had placed great influence on Zell Kravinsky story and it is important we evaluate his arguments for moral obligationRead MoreWhat Is An Intuitive Moral Judgment Essay1281 Words   |  6 Pagesintuitive moral judgment? 5 points An intuitive moral judgment is immediate judgment that requires no thinking or reflection. In other words, an intuitive moral judgment is simply a judgment we make with a minimum of thinking about it. An intuitive moral judgment is an automatic response to our understanding of a situation or an action. Many moral psychologists believe that moral intuitions are mainly based on our feelings rather than reasoning. 2. What is the difference between a singular moral judgmentRead MoreEssay on Duty versus Charity: Why a Distinction is Essential1256 Words   |  6 Pageswrite the article Famine, Affluence and Morality, wherein he claims that world hunger and famine can be prevented and possibly eradicated if everyone in the wealthy nations did their bit to help the sufferers monetarily. Singer further claims that duty and charity should not be as distinct as they are now, and hints at uniting the two. Upon careful analysis of Singer’s paper, one can find multiple loopholes in this proposal, and can conclude that Singer’s idea, while crafted out of good intentionsRead MoreDavid Hume And Immanuel Kant964 Words   |  4 Pagesthe origin of something nearly everyone agrees on, our actions are a result of reason. Hume holds the idea that actions, when cut down to their core, are a result of the universal feelings that a species shares. Kant’s counterargument is that actions, when not done as a means to an end or faculty of desire, are done from duty and only such have true moral worth. He goes on to define good will with and without limitations, and separates the duties towards oneself and to others. Both arguments seem