1. Is singer’s comparison of Dora and wealthy Americans an oversimplification? Why or why not?
Yes, I believe that the comparison of Dora and wealthy Americans was an oversimplification. It is a bit drastic to say that people would directly choose to purchase objects of luxury and put a child to death. Yes, many Americans do love to spend their money on what the third world believes is unnecessary, but that is how they are brought up. They do not regard their actions as directly harming others, unlike in the case of Dora.
2. What is the ethical distinction, if any, between wealthy or well-off Americans (or wealthy people throughout the world) and Dora
The ethical distinction would be to choose something of monetary value over the life of a complete stranger.
3. What differences does Singer point out between wealthy Americans and Dora?
This is someone who judges whether acts are right or wrong by their consequences.
4. What is a “Utilitarian Philosopher” according to Singer?
The difference between wealthy Americans and Dora is that Americans do not have direct contact with people in poverty, or people who they have the chance to save.
5. What hypocrisy does Singer point out in P 5?
The hypocrisy that singer points out is that people are quick to say Dora is heartless and selfish, but they themselves do not think twice about the dying people around the world.
6. In P8 Singer says that he doesn’t believe a child’s life is more important to save than an adult’s life. Do you agree?
Yes, all life is equal and should be valued equally.
7. Singer uses another fictional story (this one by Peter Unger) to get people thinking about the choices they make. Summarize the story about Bob.
Bob is probably upper middle class who worked his whole life and can finally afford something he’s always wanted. This object will allow to let him live comfortable. He had to make a choice between saving that object or protecting a child, he chose his material possession.
8. How is Bob different than Dora? How is Bob different (or the same) than most well off people worldwide?
Bob is different from Dora because he did not have to look in the child’s eyes and directly lead him/her to danger. He is the same with wealthy people around the world because he chose to ignore a life and look out for his own.
9. Because few within society donate substantial amounts of money, does that justify the lack of donations made by individuals?
No, it doesn’t because every donation counts and will make a difference.
10. Singer P13 says that “follow-the-crowd-ethics” were partially responsible for the rise of Nazism. Although he doesn’t compare following the Nazi ideology to not donating money, he does simply imply that the “follow-the-crowd-ethics” are dangerous. Do you think the “follow-the-crowd-ethics” are responsible for individual lack of charity?
Yes, that sort of ethics will let people rest on the fact that their friends, neighbors or family members do not donate to charity, so why should they?
11. In P17 Singer says that “we can’t decide moral issues by taking opinion polls. What does he mean by this, and why is it wrong to do this?
Everyone has different viewpoints and different ways of thinking. Not everyone thinks in a utilitarian manner. You cannot just decide on a moral issue just because the majority believes it is correct.
12. How does Singer expand the story of Bob? Does this expansion make you think differently about Bob’s actions?
The story is expanded by comparing Bob’s actions to every day Americans. It was quite clear where the story was going, so it did not make a difference.
13. What question does Singer ask in P15?
Singer asked if people will have to keep giving until they have nothing left.
14. In P18 Singer assert that well-off Americans should donate 10% of their incomes. Do you think this is a reasonable number?
No, because that is the number that the Christian God asks to give as tithe offerings, and people are not equal with God, therefore they should ask for less.
15. What percentages of GDP are donated by the world’s wealthiest countries? Google this question: have the percentages changed since Singer wrote this article?
The United States is at 0.07. Now it is at 0.55.
16. In P21 & P22, Singer lays out his philosophy: “Again, the formula is simple: whatever money you’re spending on luxuries, not necessities, should be given away. (637)” He goes on to say that scientists believe most people would not be willing to make such a sacrifice because of our human nature. If it is our human nature to ‘save ourselves what we could give others’ is Singer’s solution possible?
No, Singer’s solution is not possible because people are naturally selfish beings. Everyone would choose to live comfortable, rather than to help anyone.
17. In P23 Singer says “If we value the life of a child more than going to fancy restaurants, the next time we dine out we will know that we could have done something better with our money. If that makes living a morally descent life extremely arduous, well, then that is the way things are. If we don’t do it, then we should at least know that we are failing to live a morally decent life – not because it is good to wallow in guilt but because knowing where we should be going is the first step towards heading in that direction. (367)”.
Do you agree that if we think about “living a morally descent life” or “failing to live a morally descent life” we will be more likely to move in the “morally descent” direction?
No, it does not mean that you cannot move in a morally decent direction. There are other definitions to being moral. What if you do donate to charity, yet the money that you donate, you earn through a child prostitution ring? There is a clash in morals.
18. At the end of the essay, Singer proposes the idea that Bob is actually lucky – why?
Bob is not unlucky because he is not starving, ridden with disease or dying.
