BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:talks.ox.ac.uk
BEGIN:VEVENT
SUMMARY:Obligations to the Needy:  Singer’s Pond Example versus Supporti
 ng International Aid Organizations—Some Disanalogies and Their Normative
  Significance - Professor Larry S. Temkin (Rutgers University)
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20171108T170000Z
DTEND;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20171108T190000Z
UID:https://talks.ox.ac.uk/talks/id/5714bacb-1ccc-4be9-8a93-1f73ce8804de/
DESCRIPTION:Peter Singer famously argued that just as we have compelling m
 oral reason to save a drowning child\, so we have compelling moral reason 
 to aid the world’s needy.  In this Lecture\, I raise a number of worries
  about the relevance of Singer’s Pond Example to whether we should be do
 nating money to international aid organizations.  \n\nI consider a number 
 of possible disanalogies between saving a drowning child and giving to an 
 international relief organization.  These include whether those needing he
 lp are members of one’s own community\, whether they are near or far\, w
 hether one’s aid requires the assistance of many intervening agents\, wh
 ether one is actually saving lives\, whether corruption is a worry\, wheth
 er those needing assistance are innocent and/or not responsible for their 
 plight\, whether the needy are victims of an accident or social injustice\
 , and whether anyone stands to benefit from one’s intervention other tha
 n the needy themselves.  I show that some of these disanalogies may have i
 mportant normative significance\, making the case for contributing to inte
 rnational aid agencies much less clear than the case for saving the drowni
 ng child in Singer’s famous example.  \n\nIn addressing these topics\, I
  argue that we must be attuned to the many direct and indirect ways in whi
 ch international aid efforts may inadvertently benefit the perpetrators of
  grave social injustices\, incentivizing such injustices.  Similarly\, we 
 must be aware of the possibility that our aid efforts may end up rewarding
  corrupt leaders whose policies have contributed to hybrid natural/man-mad
 e disasters\, thus encouraging such disastrous policies.   Furthermore\, I
  note that aid organizations have every incentive to emphasize the good th
 at they accomplish\, and to not look for\, ignore\, or even cover up any b
 ad effects that may result from their interventions\, and that independent
  agencies assessing aid effectiveness may lack the means of accurately det
 ermining all the negative effects to which international aid efforts may g
 ive rise.  Thus\, however compelling it may be\, Singer’s Pond Example d
 epicts a simple situation that is a far cry from the complex reality with 
 which international development agencies have to contend.  Accordingly\, m
 uch more needs to be considered before one can pass judgment on the overal
 l merits of funding international aid organizations.  \nSpeakers:\nProfess
 or Larry S. Temkin (Rutgers University)
LOCATION:Oxford Martin School (Lecture Theatre)\, 34 Broad Street OX1 3BD
TZID:Europe/London
URL:https://talks.ox.ac.uk/talks/id/5714bacb-1ccc-4be9-8a93-1f73ce8804de/
BEGIN:VALARM
ACTION:display
DESCRIPTION:Talk:Obligations to the Needy:  Singer’s Pond Example versus
  Supporting International Aid Organizations—Some Disanalogies and Their 
 Normative Significance - Professor Larry S. Temkin (Rutgers University)
TRIGGER:-PT1H
END:VALARM
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR