preview

Peter Singer's The Singer Solution To World Poverty

Better Essays

The Declaration of Independence guarantees everyone the rights of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” In many ways, those “inalienable rights” are tied into many aspects of the stereotypical American lifestyle. There is the idea of the American Dream, consisting of a nuclear family living in a nice house with a white picket fence, a well-cared for lawn, and a car in the driveway. As we all know this is a very atypical scenario for most of the planet. According to DoSomething.org, more than three billion people live on less than $2.50 a day, with 1.3 billion of those people living in extreme poverty, characterized by extreme poverty (less than $1.25 a day) ("11 Facts About Global Poverty | Dosomething.Org | Volunteer For Social Change"). With such a large economical gap shouldn’t people feel more compelled to act up and donate money to a cause? This is the question that author Peter Singer explores in his essay “The Singer Solution to World Poverty,” with entails people being radically philanthropic, giving away all money that isn’t used on necessities. While this method seems like the most charitable course to take, humans enjoy luxuries and do not care for everyone equally. There are many moral dilemmas in which there is a deviation from what is right in the utilitarian point-of-view and the morals that current society holds.
While it is important to look at Singer’s specific argument, it is also important to take a step back and look at where he is

Get Access