Phi208 Ethics and Moral Reasoning Week 2 Assignment

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A Matter of Moral Thinking Student’s Name Instructor’s Name PHI208: Ethics and Moral Reasoning 14 January 2014 A Matter of Moral Thinking Singer’s goal in the article is to argue that the way people in relatively affluent countries react to a situation like that in Bengal in 1974 (refugees starving due to political and governmental reasons) 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 (Singer, 1974). Individuals in affluent countries such as the United States tend to help when it is easy or when it suits them. Singer does not believe we are monsters for thinking this way, it is just that is how we as humans over the years have been able to justify when we do and do not help others out. If we help individuals or groups less fortunate, we tend to like to be thanked for our help. If it is over our budget or time constraints, then we justify it by stating openly or to ourselves that we did what we could and that others also need to help. If we see that others are putting in a dollar to help, we easily put in a dollar if we can. If we were expected to put more in, it would become a problem and we would begin justifying why we do not need to offer more. When did our actions become so dependent on what others are doing and less on what the morally right thing to do is? We very easily begin to rationalize if someone attacks the help that we do offer. Why do we not help as much as possible for instance to save children from starving in a different county. Is it that it is easier to say, “That is their problem or well that is all the way across the country, that doesn’t concern us”? Basically, if we as humans can prevent or stop something such as a person starving to death and it is done "without

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