John Linares Engineering Ethics 9/19/2017
Singer on famine affluence and morality.
The decisions and actions of human beings can prevent any kind of suffering. Unfortunately, human beings have not made the necessary decisions. At the individual level people, have not responded to disasters in any significant way. And at the government level, there has been no sort of massive aid that would help refugees survive for more than a couple of days.
Assistance on great scales will not be forthcoming, forcing to let the refugees starve or help the refugees and more people will starve in the future. There is nothing unique about this situation it is just but a series of major emergencies in various parts of the world, arising both from natural and from man-made causes. And Neither individuals nor governments can claim to be unaware of what is happening.
People can hold all sorts of eccentric positions, but if it is in our power to prevent something bad from happening, without thereby sacrificing anything of comparable moral importance, we ought, morally, to do it. It requires us only to prevent what is bad, and not to promote what is good, and it requires this of us only when we can do it without sacrificing anything that is, from the moral point of view, comparably important. The principle takes no account of proximity or distance. As well it makes no distinctions between cases where I am the only person who could possibly do anything about it.
From the moral point of view,
The refugee crisis that plagues the world is often referred to as the Syrian refugee crisis, and Western countries are usually concerned only for the affect it has on them and their country. Yet the countries taking in the most refugees are the relatively stable nations in the Middle East that are closest to those in crisis, like Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey, not the wealthy nations most capable of supporting the refugees. These countries are often small and suffering their own economic and political woes, and struggle with the masses of refugees entering the countries. Various groups are working to raise money and support for these refugees, and other poor African and Middle Eastern countries are attempting to do their best, but without the help of the wealth West, the refugee crisis is not going to go away. A question has been posed to the nations of the world; are they willing to take in any of the millions of the desperate refugees?
Secondly, he proposed two versions of principles for the second premise. The favored principle is that “If it is in our power to prevent something bad from happening, without thereby sacrificing anything of comparable moral importance, we ought, morally, to do it.” From this principle he suggests that people should give a help to person if the situation after giving a help is not as bad as the situation that the person was. The guideline is quite obvious that we should help if the sacrifice is affordable and is not harmful to our life.
In the Des Moines paper this week there is an article entitled “Turkey at Capacity as Refugees Flee Airstrikes”. The article explains that with the Russian airstrikes accelerating it is forcing more and more Syrians form their homes. Turkey is saying that it has reached capacity for what they can take. Some of the border gates at this time are closed and Turkey is trying to limit further refugees from entering by providing assistance to them inside of Syria. The flood of people is likely to continue to increase. With several nations closing their boarders to refugees what are these innocent people supposed to do? The ethical issue here is, how can nations sit back and see the devastation and need for refugee relocation and do nothing?
Prevention-Principle: If we can prevent something bad from happening, then we ought to do it, unless we are thereby sacrificing something of comparable moral importance.
Many individuals suffer daily from famine, to destructible natural disasters. While millions live in poverty around the world. In “Famine, Affluence, and Morality” by Peter Singer, he emphasizes on utilitarianism for being his main moral theory he accepts. However he doesn’t directly state it in his own writing. According to utilitarianism, they believe that the purpose of morality is to make life better by increasing the amount of good things in the world and reducing the bad things such as unhappiness and pain. This is relevant to Singer since he states, “If it is in our power to prevent something bad from happening, without thereby sacrificing anything of comparable moral importance, we ought, morally, to do it.” Meaning a person has an obligation to do whatever it takes to prevent any bad from happening.
Today we watch the world rage in war, bathe in chaos, and live in destruction. Where there is war families are being torn apart. Children watch family members be killed in front of them and many homes are destroyed. They are forced to leave their country and seek refuge in a neighboring one. In the book Outcasts United, the main conflict is how refugees are readjusting to life and how they are treated. Many characters have waited years to get into the u.s.This has made me realize that the way we deal with refugees is a big problem today. The camps they are put in are unsanitary. It takes years for background checks. And even after they get an okay to come here, they still struggle. Money can only go so far. I believe it is time to help them. Refugees are people and need to have another chance at life.
In conclusion, that's why I think the U.S should accept more refugees into the country. Many people are being affected with all the violence and all are in need of medical help that the U.S can provide to
After migration when they reach a safe country they do not know how to react. Many refugees suffer from depression and PTSD from witnessing the loss of their leaders or loved ones and even from witnessing mass killings, causing them to be distant and not make any effort to get help. They do not understand involvement in their community when they have reached a safe location. The refugee groups stay together and do not against each other fearing one will or could be killed. At refugee camps, many make the camp a big family from hearing and understanding other victims stories, creating bonds.
1st Premise: If by performing an action you can prevent something bad from happening without sacrificing anything of comparable moral worth, you ought, morally, to do it.
In his second premise, Peter Singer asserts that “if it is in our power to prevent something bad from happening, without thereby sacrificing anything of comparable moral importance, we ought, morally,
In response to the recent failure of the international community to prevent the famine crisis in the Horn of Africa since July 2011, Suzanne Dvorak the chief executive of Save the Children wrote that, “We need to provide help now. But we cannot forget that these children are wasting away in a disaster that we could - and should - have prevented” she added, “The UN estimates that every $1 spent in prevention saves $7 in emergency spending.” (Dvorak, 2011).
A refugee is a person who was forced to leave their country. Whether it be from warfare or natural disaster, their homes are no longer safe to live in, so they need to relocate elsewhere. Once someone sets foot on the journey of becoming a refugee, they become vulnerable and dependent with no sense of what the future will bring. In an attempt to accommodate them, first world countries with the resources necessary to assist these refugees, are struggling to determine whether or not they should step-in and help. Some argue that taking them in could come with excessive consequences, while others believe they could be assets. Although there may be a few consequences, they are outweighed by the benefits and undeniable severity of the situation.
We the people can do something about it by creating awareness with in the society and accepting others for they’re and having in our heart human is human where ever you live. People may have different color, different culture, come from different places or even have different religion, but despite which group you belong to we are all humans and we have to respect humanity which is the link that binds us together regardless of who we are. Too many never value humanity because of the cynical idea they belief in is causing them to treat others differently; which is part of ignorance. We should convince those kind of people to understand what it mean to human and what’s like being in the position of the victim. I believe, our purpose of life isn’t just what we do for our self, but it has to involve brining good to others. Helping others is sign of strength but not a sign of weakness. I can really understand what’s like being refugee. I had been through those difficult moment in my life. The life in refugee camps is harsh and brutal, but for those of you who never had this experience it may seem a bunch of people who destroy their country and fled to another country to shrink the economy of other countries. I think we lack humanity and understanding everyone can face such difficult time in their life, but for those who become lucky enough not to face this difficult they should appreciate to God and help others who are in need. We are not helping but we are saving generation. The reality is this people are seeking better life and peaceful place to live. Imagine if you were in that shoes how you would like to be treated. We have treat others with respect and dignity which we all deserve. Overall, we should help refugees whom are the generation that would shape the next world that our
People are starting to question whether or not they want Syrians living in their country due to all the terrorist attack, threats etc.
The Syrian refugee crisis has received massive media coverage. People around the world are trying to comprehend the desperate, complicated situation surrounding Syria. The civil war in Syria is the worst crisis in our time. Syrians upset at the fact that long promised reforms have not been enacted, began anti-government demonstrations which started the civil war in 2011. The peaceful protests turned ugly, with the government violently putting an end to those protests. Afterward, ordinary citizens took arms, causing the situation to escalate. Syrians are fleeing their homes because of the great violence, which have left thousands dead and millions wounded, a collapsed infrastructure, resulting in a shattered economy, and for the safety of the children. Syrians are either streaming to surrounding countries or risking their lives to travel to Europe.