Week 6 Flashcards
(14 cards)
What are ethical responsibilities according to Carroll?
Actions expected by society that go beyond the law, such as respecting rights and doing what’s morally right.
What are philanthropic responsibilities?
Voluntary actions like donations or community support, which are not legally or morally required but socially expected.
What is Peter Singer’s main argument in “Famine, Affluence, and Morality”?
If we can prevent something bad without significant sacrifice, we are morally obligated to do it.
What does Singer say about distance and moral obligation?
Physical distance doesn’t reduce our moral duty—global communication means we can help anyone, anywhere.
How does Singer challenge the difference between charity and duty?
He argues that helping those in need is not optional charity but a moral duty for affluent individuals and corporations.
What does Thomas Pogge argue in “World Poverty and Human Rights”?
The rich are not just failing to help the poor—they are complicit in harming them through unjust global systems.
How are corporations implicated in global poverty according to Pogge?
Corporations benefit from global inequalities, exploit resources, and support unjust systems, making them more responsible than individuals.
What are Pogge’s two justifications for wealth entitlement, and how does he refute them?
(1) Historical luck—refuted due to colonialism and theft. (2) Global system fairness—refuted as it creates human rights deficits.
What is Risse’s main critique of Pogge?
He argues that global institutions may not be harming the poor more than the alternative would, and that development depends more on domestic institutions.
What is the ‘Institutional Thesis’ Risse defends?
Economic prosperity depends mainly on strong domestic institutions, not just on external aid or global trade rules.
How does Risse limit external duties to the poor?
He says duties are mostly about helping build good institutions, not wide-scale wealth redistribution.
Why might firms have more responsibility than individuals to be philanthropic?
They benefit more from unjust systems and have more power to make large-scale changes with fewer sacrifices.
Should we value public goods differently than private goods?
Yes. Some values, like clean air or scenic views, may not be well-reflected in market prices and require public consideration.
What does ‘effective altruism’ promote?
Using evidence and reasoning to maximize the good we do with our time and money (e.g., through career choice or targeted donations).
