Ethical Analysis of World Hunger
The current analysis of the world hunger problem presents it from the different points of view. For the sake of better visibility of basic tenets of main ethical theories used for the purposes of analysis, current presentation shall be formatted as a series of speeches to different audiences, in which the problem of the world hunger shall be highlighted from the position that defends the compassion. The moral theories and views of the following authors shall be applied each according to the particular audience: Ayn Rand’s ethical egoism, Peter Singer and Garrett Hardin’s ethical altruism.
The first speech is delivered to the audience of Annual Convention of Ethical Egoists. In order to be consistent with the audience’s belief, the arguments closest to ethical egoism shall be used. The ethical views of Ayn Rand are the most consistent with the ethical egoism and thus shall be used for this particular case. One of the basic principles of Ayn Rand’s views of ethical egoism used for this presentation states that other people constitute a significant value to an individual’s well-being, because through interaction all the participants of the said interaction gain mutual benefits (Rand, & Branden, 1964). In this way, the idea about the necessity in helping to resolve the problem of world hunger shall sound as following message.
To the participants of Annual Convention of Ethical Egoists
It is accepted among the proponents of ethical egoism, fairly and justly, that there is no point in sacrificing oneself for the sake of others. Because in this way the person or a group of people, become the reason of somebody’s suffering and the voluntary component of individual’s sacrifice does not make a difference, because the result of voluntary sacrifice cannot be surely distinguished from the result of involuntary one. So, the altruism can be viewed as something that is opposite to the interests of a moral individual, because no agent can be considered moral if the actions of that agent coerce another human being. Coercion here is done through the promised social penalties for not sacrificing oneself to the interests of others.
The problem of the world hunger and its solutions that involve the intervention of other parties besides the people, who suffer from hunger, seems to be a classical example of expressing the altruism in its harmful form. However, providing assistance to those who suffer may exist in harmony with the principles of ethical egoism. As this moral theory presupposes that individual should act of its own interest, it does not prescribe, as many mistakenly assume, blindly following one’s wishes and passions. Ethical egoism has a concern for an individual’s both present and future. Following one’s wishes by making the decisions aimed at getting an immediate result and getting profits from the momentary opportunities is often contradictory to individual’s overall good as such decision are likely to carry more bad consequences, which in future will outweigh the momentary benefits.
Bearing in mind the latter notion, the problem of the world hunger …
