Ethics and Hunger

Ethics and Hunger

Sources:

World Hunger and Morality (1996 Aiken and LaFollette)

World Food Problem (2004 Leathers and Foster)

The Elements of Moral Philosophy (1993 Rachels)

Ethics

• How do we know what is right and wrong?– Use ethical theories to develop ethical

arguments

• Ethical Arguments– Based on logical extension of ethical theories to

address specific issues– a peaceful way to resolve conflicts in values

Ethics is not

• Bible or Religion– People have different religions– Ethics can transcend differences

• Law– Some things are legal but not ethical– Some things are ethical but not legal

• Customs– People have different ways of doing things– Ethics can transcend differences

Ethical Theories

• Natural Law– There are stronger and

weaker among all things

– It is natural and therefore right for the strong to win over the weak

– Examples

• Humans are at the top of the food chain and therefore eat animals and plants

• Survival of the fittest

• Social Darwinism

Ethical Theories

• Divine Command – What is right is

determined by God• Jewish• Christian• Moslem• Aztec

– Examples• Love thy neighbor as

thyself• Thou shall not kill• Golden Rule• Compassion

http://www.templestudy.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/the-creation-of-adam.jpeg

Ethical Theories

• Virtue Ethics – Have good character and you

will behave ethically

– Example: Justice• One who develops the personal

virtue of justice will treat other people in an ethically just manner

Aristotle

http://www.ilt.columbia.edu/Publications/Projects/digitexts/aristotle/aristotle.jpg

Ethical Theories

• Categorical Imperative– Should be able to

universalize what you do

– People should not be treated as means to an end

– Examples:• If some have access to the

means of survival, everyone should have access to the means of survival

• Exploitation is wrongEmanuel Kant

http://faculty.msmary.edu/miller/301/kant-color2.jpg

Ethical Theories

• Rights– There are protected

privileges people deserve

• Universal – should apply to everybody

• Inherent for human beings (at least)

– Examples

• Right to life

• Right to freedom

• Right not to be tortured

• Right to own property

http://www.sflifeandjustice.org/images/fetus1.jpg

Rights

• Right to water, air, food?

• Right to livelihood?

Ethical Theories• Utilitarianism

– Seek the greatest good for the greatest number

• Quantitate and optimize happiness in society while minimizing pain

– Examples• Interstate highways through

farms benefit the larger public

Ethical Theories

• Utilitarianism– Seek the greatest good for

the greatest number

– Examples• Increase distribution of wealth

– Charity

– Graduated Taxes

– Labor Unions

– Socialism

– Land Redistribution

• Increase access to land, water, credit, health, and education

http://blog.craigdossantos.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/india-education.jpg

Land Redistribution

• Jefferson thought the misery of Europe was caused by enormous inequality in land holding.

• He proposed that land should be redistributed every generation.

Thomas Jefferson

http://richmondthenandnow.com/Images/Famous-Visitors/Thomas-Jefferson-big.jpg

Ethical Theories

• Intuition– What is right is what

resonates as the right thing for an individual

– Based on • Feeling (irrational)• Thinking (rational)• Mysticism (spiritual)• Culture (societal values)

– Example• Gut feeling (sense) that it

is morally wrong for people to starve to death

http://www.usyd.edu.au/stuserv/images/learningCentre/thinker3.jpg

Ethical Principles

• Non- Maleficence– Do no harm: stop hurting

others

• Beneficence– Do good: help others

• Justice– Fairness: equality of

treatment

• Autonomy– Self-determination

• Paternalism– Deciding for others

http://www.flatrock.org.nz/topics/odds_and_oddities/assets/starving-boy.jpg

Non-Maleficence

http://www.mencanstoprape.org/info-url2698/info-url_show.htm?doc_id=700932

Ethical Perspectives

• Absolutism– What is right is

universal, timeless, and absolute

• Relativism– What is right may be

different for different people or cultures

• Nihilism– There is no right or

wronghttp://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/05_01/afghanbrideMS1205_468x322.jpg

Fallacies in Ethical Arguments

• Can’t cite the Bible or other religious authority as reason for another to accept your ethical position

Fallacies in Ethical Arguments

• Can’t cite majority or how we’ve always done things in history as an authority – still might be

wrong

http://www.wvu.edu/~lawfac/jscully/Race/images/slavery.jpg

Fallacies in Ethical Arguments

• Can’t condemn something because of who said it

• Evaluate the merit of what is said

“I do not see why man cannot be just as cruel as nature”

Who said it?

Hitler Gandhi

http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-images/Arts/Arts_/Pictures/2007/08/08/hitler460.jpg

http://www.theprometheusinstitute.org/images/stories/quotes/gandhi.jpg

Fallacies in Ethical Arguments

• Can’t equate a thing to something else that is easy to attack– and then attack the easy

thing

– (Strawman)

Image: Greenpeace

Fallacies in Ethical Arguments

• Slippery Slope: Can’t extrapolate into the future (domino theory):– if we allow this, then a

terrible thing will happen later…

• Example: Anti-Suffragist Argument– If women became involved

in politics, they would stop marrying, having children, and the human race would die out

http://www.tchevalier.com/fallingangels/bckgrnd/suffrage/img/march.jpg

Fallacies in Ethical Arguments

• Must have sound reasoning and use factual information

• Example: Fear about eating genetically modified foods:– Its eating DNA!

http://www.gasdetection.com/news2/bioengineered_food.jpg

Is Hunger morally acceptable?

Arguments that hunger is not morally acceptable

Is Hunger morally acceptable?

• No, because:– People should have a

right to survive • Rights to

– Food– Air– Water– Shelter– Autonomy– Self-sufficiency

• Principle: Rights

Henry ShueSubsistence Rights

• “No one can fully, if at all, enjoy any right that is supposedly protected by society if he or she lacks the essentials for a reasonably healthy and active life.

• Deficiencies in the means of subsistence can be just as fatal, incapacitating, or painful as violations of physical security.

• The resulting damage or death can at least as decisively prevent the enjoyment of any right as can the effects of security violations”

http://ethics.sandiego.edu/video/images/shue_interview.jpg

Is Hunger morally acceptable?

• No, because:– Jesus said

• love thy neighbor • Do onto others as you

would have them do unto you

– Charity to the poor is a pillar of Islam

• Principles: – Divine Command– Beneficence

Orphans in Afghanistanhttp://farm1.static.flickr.com/123/385591418_0cda9c0154.jpg

Mother Teresa

• “If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one.”

• “Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person.”

http://home.snu.edu/~dwilliam/f97projects/teresa/mter2.jpg

Thomas Aquinas13th Century Italian Philosopher

• Whatever a man has in superabundance is owed, of natural right, to the poor for their sustenance

• Principle: Natural Law

http://www.aquinasandmore.com/images/saintthomasaquinas.jpg

Pope Francis

Is Hunger morally acceptable?

• No, because:– Pain suffered by the hungry

outweighs pleasure enjoyed by the well off

– Greatest good for the greatest number

• Principle: Utilitarianism– Beneficence

http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/200412/r37192_92982.jpg

Peter Singer

• If it is in our power to prevent hunger we have a moral obligation to do it– If we do not have to sacrifice anything morally

comparable• Example:

– If we walk by a shallow pond and see a child drowning, we ought to save the child rather than to save ourselves from getting wet and dirty.

http://www.thatreligiousstudieswebsite.com/images/Ethics/singer.jpg

Singer’s Runaway Trolley • Suppose you own a classic Bugatti

– it is your pride and joy– It stalls on a trolley spur line

• A runaway trolley will hit and kill a child stuck on the main track– Unless you divert the trolley to the spur

line– And destroy your Bugatti

• How much is the child worth?– How much of your money should you

give to help save the lives of children in developing countries?

– Without doing comparable harm to you?

• We earn much more than we really need

http://www.motordesktop.com/wallpaper/supercars/Bugatti%20Veyron%202%20-%201024x768.jpg

Is Hunger morally acceptable?

• No, because– There is enough grain and

vegetable food to feed everyone

– But, animal agriculture inefficiently uses too many food resources• To produce meat for the

relatively wealthy.

– Principle: Justice

http://www.iabeef.org/May/D.%20Clip%20Art%20&%20Photos%5C2.)%20Cattle%5CFeedlot%20Cattle.jpg

1/3 of world’s grain and ½ of fish are used for animal feed

Is Hunger morally acceptable?

• No, because:– Extreme disparities of wealth are

unjust – Conquest and economic domination

unjustly favor the wealthy– Resources should be more fairly

distributed• To allow everyone to be self-

supporting

• Principle: Justice, autonomy

Jakarta, Indonesia Slum

http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Image:Jakarta_slumhome_2.jpg

Is Hunger morally acceptable?

• No, because:– Western Culture has contributed to

and benefited from conditions that helped produce global hunger

• Conquest

• Colonialism

• Imperialism

• Global economic dominance

• Aid to corrupt allies

• Principles: – Non-maleficence

– JusticeUgandan dictator Idi Amin received U.S. aid

http://openanthropology.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/amin.jpg

Thomas Pogge• The Global economic order causes poverty and entrenches the disadvantages of the poor

– Example: • Dictators are allowed to sell the mineral and raw material wealth of

their country• Profits are used to perpetuate repressive regimes. • The global economic order supports this. • The developed world benefits from low prices.

– Example:• Dictators are allowed to borrow money to support repressive regimes • The global economic order supports this. • The first world benefits, developing countries suffer

http://portal.unesco.org/shs/en/files/10813/11770864025t_pogge.jpg/t_pogge.jpg

Thomas Pogge

• “We must stop thinking about world poverty in terms of helping the poor. The poor do need help, of course. But they need help only because of the terrible injustices they are being subjected to”

http://portal.unesco.org/shs/en/files/10813/11770864025t_pogge.jpg/t_pogge.jpg

Pogge:We must stop harming/exploiting

First World

Third World

Wealth Food, Resources

Is Hunger morally acceptable?

• No, because:– When I see suffering

people I know instinctively that it is wrong

• Principle: Intuition

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dc/Buchenwald_Slave_Laborers_Liberation.jpg/739px-Buchenwald_Slave_Laborers_Liberation.jpg

Is Hunger morally acceptable?

Arguments that hunger is morally acceptable

Is Hunger morally acceptable?

• Yes, because:– Well off people have a

right to what they have earned and own

• Principle: Rights

Is Hunger morally acceptable?

• Yes, because: – Jesus said the poor will

always be with us.

• Principle: Divine Command

Beggar with leprosy, India

http://www.worldproutassembly.org/images/leprosy_beggar_india.jpg

Is Hunger morally acceptable?

• Yes, because:– If we are not causing

hunger, we are not responsible

• Principle: Non-Maleficence

http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/070913/070913_ethanol_vmed_12p.widec.jpg

Is Hunger morally acceptable?

• Yes, because:– People deserve the

circumstances they experience:

• Caste system

• God’s will

• Original sin

• Providence

• Principle: Divine Command

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d0/Creation_of_the_Sun_and_Moon_face_detail.jpg

Is Hunger morally acceptable?

• Yes, because:

• There must be poor in an agricultural society to support the hierarchy

• Principle: Divine Command

http://cache.eb.com/eb/image?id=82588&rendTypeId=4

Is Hunger morally acceptable?

• Yes, because:

• Survival of the fittest is a law of nature: we are not all equal: – individuals or

– cultures

– Social Darwinism

• Principle: Natural Law“I contend that we are the first race in the world and the more of the world we inhabit the better it is for the human race…”

Cecil Rhodes

http://www.notablebiographies.com/images/uewb_09_img0594.jpg

Is Hunger morally acceptable?

• Yes, because:– The poor countries

will out-reproduce the wealthy countries, resulting in greater hunger in the future

• Principle: Beneficence

Garrett Hardin

• Rich nations are like lifeboats and must limit the number of people aboard

• If you think this is unfair you may give your seat to one of the poor

• If we give money or food to the poor they will multiply, destroying the earth for all

• This is a tragedy of the commons: abuses by some can destroy common resources for all

http://www.garretthardinsociety.org/images/pic_gh_podium_b.jpg

• “We are all descendants of thieves, and the world’s resources are inequitably distributed.

• But we must begin the journey to tomorrow from the point where we are today.

• We cannot remake the past.

• We cannot safely divide the wealth equitably among all peoples so long as people reproduce at different rates.”

Garrett Hardin

http://www.garretthardinsociety.org/images/pic_gh_podium_b.jpg

Questions

Questions

• How much of our culture’s ethical values about hunger are influenced by:– History of European

Conquest and colonialism?

http://www.kyngchaos.com/images/pics/savages.jpg

Questions

• How much of our culture’s ethical values about hunger are influenced by:– Cultural arrogance

and racism?

http://streetknowledge.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/ku_klux_klan_03.jpg

Questions

• How much of our culture’s ethical values about hunger are influenced by: – American

individualism?

Questions

• How much of our culture’s ethical values about hunger are influenced by:– Ideas of

manifest destiny?

George A. Custer

http://www.sonofthesouth.net/union-generals/custer/pictures/custer.jpg

Questions

• How much of our culture’s ethical values about hunger are influenced by: – Western property rights

and property law?                                                                   

http://school.discoveryeducation.com/schooladventures/slavery/images/captives_bound.jpg

Questions

• How much of our culture’s ethical values about hunger are influenced by: – Laisse-faire

capitalism?

http://bp3.blogger.com/_3U9GJWiZqb4/RXcoqMzmKLI/AAAAAAAAABI/CZ512_UmTTw/s320/industrial-revolution-children-labor.jpg

Questions

• How much of our culture’s ethical values about hunger are influenced by:– Xenophobia?

Questions

• How much of our culture’s ethical values about hunger are influenced by:– Religious doctrines of

love, forgiveness, compassion?

http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/08_03/teresaDM2408_468x377.jpg