Philosophy Essay: Singer's View on Famine, Affluence and Morality

This essay delves into Peter Singer's perspective on famine, affluence, and morality, particularly focusing on his arguments regarding our moral obligations to those suffering from famine. It discusses Singer's assertion that affluent individuals and nations have a duty to alleviate poverty and suffering, referencing the East Bengal situation in 1971 as a key example. The essay analyzes Singer's views on the role of government and individual responsibility, addressing criticisms of his demanding ethical stance. It further explores Singer's call for a shift in human mentality towards a more equitable distribution of resources and the potential for social media to facilitate governmental schemes aimed at improving the lives of the impoverished. The document concludes that Singer's work serves as a catalyst for promoting awareness and action towards addressing global poverty and famine.

Running head: PHILOSOPHY
Singer’s view on Famine, Affluence and morality
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PHILOSOPHY
Introduction
Famine contradicts the aspect of “daily bread for survival”. This is because scarcity of
food attaches an interrogative parameter to the survival strategies. This interrogation negates
human existence as a whole. Famines, because of governmental policies add to the negation of
the survival (Singer, 2016). The previous sentence relates with the essential characteristics of the
aspect “affluence”, which nullifies moral from the functionalities of the government officials.
Herein, the variable of the article can be correlated. This assignment delves deep into this aspect
by speculating Peter Singer’s opinion on the disturbed souls suffering from famine.
Consideration of the article, Famine, Affluence and Morality adds value to the assignment
Discussion
The society is divided into two parts- rich and poor. Transformation from rags to riches is
possible and vice versa. The first category of transformation is normal; however, the second
category of transformation is pathetic in terms of leading a normal and peaceful life. The tag
“poor” ruins peace and happiness of the people coming under this category (Singer, 2016).
Attachment of the condition of East Bengal in 1971 by Peter Singer provides the readers with a
clear picture about the poor strata of society. Herein lays the narration by Singer regarding the
people dying due to the lack of food, shelter and clothing.
Singer’s view regarding the inevitability of these deaths is absolutely in alignment with
the life cycle. This is because of the over-exploitation of the resources by the rich. Incapability of
the government personnel towards supplying the poor people with adequate resources makes the
condition of poverty consistent. This consistency affirms the statement of Singer regarding the
deaths due to poverty as “inevitable” (Singer, 2016).

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Peter considers the situation of famine and poverty as a “cyclone”. This connotation can
be correlated with the sudden advent of rags on the people, enjoying aristocracy. It is the
responsibility of the government officials to protect the people from the instances of cyclone.
Similarly, in the times of poverty, it becomes the duty of the government officials to seek out
ways for catering to the basic needs and requirements of the people. Herein lays the point where
Singer brings the alarming situation of 9 million people becoming destitute refugees due to the
dearth of food, shelter and clothing (Singer, 2016). The number is striking, which slowly and
gradually obliterates human existence from the world.
The point where Singer tells that it is beyond the capacity of the richer nations to assist
the developing nations cannot be agreed. This is because the richer nations have enough funds,
which if given to the poorer nations would result in their societal upliftment. Reduction of these
kinds of sufferings into small proportions contradicts the aspect of upliftment. Countering this, it
is entirely a matter of willingness and eagerness in case of the richer nations to extend a helping
hand towards the developing nations rather under developed nations (Singer, 2016).
Fragmentation of the problem of famine is Peter’s aggravation to the complexities of the poorer
section of society. This aggravation broadens the demarcation between rich and poor.
Singer asserts that humans have not made the necessary decisions regarding the societal
upliftment of the poorer strata. This is in perfect alignment with the selfish mentality of the
richer sections. Singer is also right in his assertations regarding the lack of oriental approach in
undertaking the decisions regarding alleviation of the conditions like poverty, famine among
others. Not donating adequate amount in the relief funds have added to the complexities of the
government officials in terms of the organizing relief camps for the distressed people (Vaughn,
2015). Neither there has been strikes, protests and fasts for supporting the people suffering from

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PHILOSOPHY
famine. Countering this, there has been many protests and strikes for upgrading the standards of
these distressed people. These strikes and protests reflects the governmental initiatives towards
the upliftment of the social status of these poor people. Delving deep into the aspect, these
protests, acts as an escape to the poorer strata of society from the claustrophobic existence.
Exposure of strategic approach towards the revolts makes Peter Singer a Samaritan for the
perturbed souls.
Citing evidences regarding the provision of funds by the developed nations validates
Singer as an author and provides him with the permission to publicize these donations to the
public (Vaughn, 2015). The development costs by British government contradict the societal
upgradation of the refugees and the persons living in extreme poverty. Australia is one of the
other countries, which has been enlisted within the countries providing financial assistance to the
people suffering from extreme famine conditions. Singer maintains clarity in this projections,
which enhances the clarity of the readers in terms of the conditions of the people in extreme
levels of famine and poverty (Vaughn, 2015).
Conclusion
It can be concluded that Peter Singer is a savior in the life of these distressed people. This
is because he has written about these people. This written version acts as a mass appeal for the
public in terms of upgrading the standards and status of these people from such a degraded
condition. Penning down the personal opinions inspite of criticism reflects the urge of Singer in
terms of altering the predicament of these people. Taking the example of Bengal has brought
Singer closer to the people, unfamiliar with the real economic scenario. The intensity of this
situation affirms Singer in terms of his claim regarding the fact that neither government nor the

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PHILOSOPHY
individuals exposing ignoring attitude towards the events happening with the poorer strata of the
society.
Viewing it from the other perspective, Singer, through his publication boosts the morale
of the poorer people in terms of their disturbed plight. Singer has pointed to an universal truth
that the human mentality needs to be changed towards their existence. Beautification of limited
yet the necessities would enable the poor people to survive within extreme famine conditions. On
the contrary, if the people give up, they would find difficulties in leading a normal, peaceful and
happy life. Adoption of different routes would broaden the perspectives of the government
officials in terms of organizing lucrative programs for transforming the lives of the poor people.
Herein lays the appropriateness of social media, which would result in the gradual transformation
of the governmental schemes towards altering the predicament of the people considered as the
poorer strata. This is one of the effective means, which would be the conglomeration of
government and the individuals, fighting for safeguarding the rights of these disturbed souls.

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References
Brown, C. (2017). Poverty alleviation, global justice, and the real world. Ethics & International
Affairs, 31(3), 357-365.
Clifton, W. S. (2017). Christopher W. Morris, ed., Questions of Life and Death: Readings in
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Harvey, J. (2015). Civilized Oppression and Gratitude. In Civilized Oppression and Moral
Relations (pp. 15-37). Palgrave Macmillan, New York.
Singer, P. (2016). From “Famine, Affluence and Morality” to Effective Altruism. The
Philosophers' Magazine, (73), 60-61.
Singer, P. (2016). The most good you can do: a response to the commentaries. Journal of Global
Ethics, 12(2), 161-169.
Singer, P. (2016). Famine, affluence, and morality. Oxford University Press, USA.
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Vaughn, L. (2015). Doing ethics: Moral reasoning and contemporary issues. WW Norton &
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