Argument Analysis Essay

Submitted By tjfritz10
Words: 870
Pages: 4
Open Document
“Famine, Affluence, and Morality” is an article written in 1971 by Peter Singer, a Professor of Bioethics at Princeton University. In this article, Singer wrote about the lack of effort put forth by society to keep people in developing countries from starving, using the poverty crisis in East Bengal in 1971 as an example. Singer also writes about the moral obligation that society has to prevent and/or alleviate situations such as the East Bengal crisis. Throughout the article, Singer points out that the manner in which the affluent members in society is currently acting is unacceptable and unjustifiable, given the great needs that those in East Bengal had at the time. When Singer wrote the article in 1971, East Bengal was in a state of chaos and subsistence due to constant poverty, natural disaster, and civil war. Singer points out that even countries such as Great Britain and Australia, who had given more money than most other countries to East Bengal, still spent immensely more on projects that seemed of little importance when compared to the number of people dying halfway across the world. This brings him to the main point of the article, which is this: a person should do everything in his or her power to prevent bad things from happening, as long as they are not sacrificing something of comparable moral importance. He makes clear the fact that most of society does not share this same philosophy, or if they do they are surely not adhering to it. Singer than goes on to refute a couple reasons why people may disagree with his stance on the issue. The first counterpoint he brings up is the issue of proximity and distance. Should we do everything in our power to help others, even if they live on the other side of the world? Singer’s answer is a resounding yes. Although being in close proximity to a person may make us more likely to help them, it does not imply that we ought to help them over a person who lives 1,000 miles from us. If we as a society are to treat people with impartiality and equality, Singer says, this argument really holds no weight. In addition, the present age of globalization allows virtually instantaneous communication with people in all parts of the world, as well as ease of travel to get there. Today we are able to be a thousand miles away from a village one day, and standing in it the next. He then addresses the argument that an individual in society is just like millions of others, in regards to the East Bengal issue. Because of this, many argue that our need to help people is not as strong as if we were the only person available to help. Singer refutes this by comparing the East Bengal situation to a child drowning in a lake with many people standing around. The fact that a crowd of people is present does not make an individual any less obliged to help the drowning child than if they were the only person there. After refuting these two arguments, Singer wrestles a bit with the idea of supererogatory acts, or acts that are good to do but not wrong to not do. He argues that in most people’s eyes, refusing to do supererogatory acts is
Show More

Related Documents: Argument Analysis Essay

Toulmin Argument Analysis

The Toulmin method is an analysis that goes very in depth in an argument. It breaks the argument in parts and when read, it shows how effective the argument is all together. The passage goes over how the United States is facing a problem with illegal immigrants and the United States wants to get rid of them. The authors go over the possible way of overcoming that obstacle by providing clear cut facts and in depth analysis. This overall was a very effective argument due to the author using the Toulmin…

Words 852 - Pages 4

An Argument For Animalism Analysis

“An Argument for Animalism”, Olson argues that each of us are numerically identical with a living human animal. Perhaps the strongest argument that Olson gives for this claim relies on the claim that you are the human animal that is sitting in your chair right now. In this paper, I will argue that this argument succeeds because you can exist without being a person. I state this, because embryos, which are not a person yet, develop important organisms before becoming a human. In “An Argument for Animalism”…

Words 471 - Pages 2

Justina's Argument Analysis

Justina's argument is that everyone should have access to paid leave when you have a child so you are able to be with your child in its early weeks of life. I do not feel the opposing viewpoints have been stated clearly. For example, is the cost for employers an issue, or even government regulations? Within the second paragraph, I found that the following sentences were lacking explanation, "Some potential issues I will face are making my point clear and concise enough to change someone’s mind while…

Words 473 - Pages 2

Derek's Argument Analysis

tells Marty he wants to stay out this time and help the family as much as possible. Marty, tells Derek he supports him. The two come to an agreement as Marty enters the entrance for Route 1. A few minutes into the drive, Marty and Derek get into an argument and Derek, tries to grab the steering wheel causing the truck the drift in the other lane. Marty’s able to gain control of the truck again, and swerves back into his lane. Derek pleads with Marty, asking him to drive faster and Marty tells him to…

Words 1556 - Pages 7

Clemenceau's Argument Analysis

The quote by Clemenceau explains that people don’t think before they act which is a unintelligent way of living. By saying the order of act is insane proves there’s another way of doing things in a situation. In a situation, people like to act out based on their emotions. What they don’t do is think. Thinking gives people a chance to establish different approaches to situations. Clemenceau uses the word reasonably which implies its a reasonable approach to think before acting because the situation…

Words 640 - Pages 3

Everyone's An Argument Analysis

facts and statistics, data from surveys and questionnaires, direct observations, testimony, experiments, interviews, personal experience, visual, and many more. When you have an argument, you need to have a legitimate and reasonable reasoning to support your argument. Often, the reasoning that is used to support an argument does not, for lack of a better term, make sense. It just leaves the reader or audience confused, which it not what you want…

Words 225 - Pages 1

The Transcendental Argument Analysis

The transcendental argument states that if “X is a necessary condition for the possibility of Y-where then, given that Y is the case, it logically follows that X must be the case too” (“Transcendental Argument”). There exist opposite views on the existence of God but this argument has been used to support or disprove His existence. The Transcendental Argument for the Existence God, abbreviated as TAG, states that “logic, science and objective ethical standards presuppose the existence of God” (Martin…

Words 143 - Pages 1

Teleological Argument Analysis

things in it?”. The teleological argument argues that the apparent design and order of things in the universe strongly implies the existence of a creator. Essentially, the universe exhibits intricate order, such as the planets in our solar system moving around the sun, and our own planet being in the perfect place to sustain life. Moreover, it can be argued that these events seem unequivocally too fortunate to happen by accident. Fundamentally, the teleological argument uses a watch as an analogy to…

Words 313 - Pages 2

Ontological Argument Analysis

articulates are the Contingent Argument, the cosmological argument, the teleogical argument, the moral Argument, the ontological argument,…

Words 538 - Pages 3

Ebola Argument Analysis

Humans are surrounded by bias. Everywhere they look, there is an advertisement, trying to sell something, signs to get someone to vote for a particular person, or cause. Who should be responsible for digging out bias from news, advertisements, political campaigns, and even an every day conversation? People have different opinions on the subject, some may even include their own bias. Everyone has an opportunity check information for bias. In the 21st century, it should be everyone's duty to check…

Words 1461 - Pages 6