Poor Countries, Thomas Pogge and Peter Singer
Relations between the poor and rich countries in the world have sparked an avalanche of questions today. Tension exists between our obligation towards poor countries on one hand, and the concept of laissez faire. This is primarily because there are innumerable benefits and freedoms associated with this kind of market system. Genuine recognition of the need to assist poor countries as well as social pressure to assist them as a matter of humanitarian obligation has been the fundamental premise in advocacy for this concept. However, the responsibility of rich countries towards poor ones has been antithetical towards the market. A tradeoff between economic benefits and confidence level in terms of how the resources are used in these poor countries exist. The plight of poor countries is of pressing nature and cannot just be dismissed without consideration. There is immense inequalities exists between the globe's affluent compared to billions of poor people in the world. Urgent attention is thus important (Easterly, 2007).
This paper will delve into the obligation of developed countries towards poor countries by as envisaged by Thomas Pogge and Peter Singer. This essay will provide a brief synopsis of the views expressed by both Thomas and Peter. The precise dissimilarities between their ideas regarding our obligation towards poor countries will be examined, and any similarities in their views will explored in depth. It will further seek to provide a statement as to whether their views are contradictory or mutually complementary. This essay will seek to provide a sound argument for the responsibility of rich countries towards poor countries. This will be founded on the fact that about three billion people in the world subsist below $2.50 in a day. Premature deaths of about 18 million people per annum are because of poverty.
[...] Tension exists between our obligation towards poor countries on one hand, and the concept of laissez faire. This is primarily because there are innumerable benefits and freedoms associated with this kind of market system. Genuine recognition of the need to assist poor countries as well as social pressure to assist them as a matter of humanitarian obligation has been the fundamental premise in advocacy for this concept. However, the responsibility of rich countries towards poor ones has been antithetical towards the market. [...]
[...] Giving famine relief is a moral obligation of rich countries. To Thomas Pogge (2002), it is the rich countries which enjoy crushing military, political, and most importantly, economic dominance over poor countries. To him, we live in a world where genocide and effective enslavement continue unabated. This is simply unabated. Both Peter Singer and Thomas agree that helping the poor countries is a moral obligation, which is rooted completely in beneficence concept to Singer, and utilitarianism for Thomas. The beneficence principle requires necessities should be given premium over luxuries. [...]
[...] Peter Singer argues that global poverty can be eradicated through upholding the positive duty to donate money. To Peter, our ability to donate determine the obligation to operate morally. Conversely, Thomas argues that the affluent are guilty of benefiting from their imposed global poverty. They should stop inflicting further violations of human rights. The rich countries should take responsibility for global poverty through institutional reform. Peter focuses on the aid effort the affluent people can support or undertake as individuals. [...]
[...] On his side, Thomas Pogge argues that people from rich countries have a responsibility in helping the poor. This essay has illuminated the fact that enslavement and Western colonization of the poor countries is to blame for the poor condition in poor countries. Richer nations support and impose unfair global systems and structures and thus harming poor countries. Thomas Pogge emphasizes on the importance of the people from richer countries helping the poor more than governments of rich nations. Work Cited Pogge, T. (2002). World poverty and human rights: Cosmopolitan responsibilities and reforms. Cambridge: Polity. Easterly, W. [...]
[...] (2007). The white man's burden: Why the west's efforts to aid the rest have done so much ill and so little good. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Callahan, D. (2006). The moral center: How we can reclaim our country from die-hard extremists, rogue corporations, Hollywood hacks, and pretend patriots. Orlando: Harcourt. Singer, P. (2002). One world: The ethics of globalization. New Haven: Yale University Press. Schaler, J. A. (2009). [...]
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