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Revisiting Peter Singer’ s International Aid Theory: Interpretation and Challenges
- 1 Heilongjiang University
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Abstract
Utilitarianism is an important analysis path of international aid, Peter Singer’s international aid theory. It is one of the representative theories. The “aid obligation” of rich countries to poor countries is the core of Singer’s international aid theory. Peter Singer demonstrated the obligation of rich countries and their peoples to assist the poor abroad through the “drowning child” thinking experiment, and his theory of international aid was born. He believes that on the basis that people have an obligation to rescue children who have fallen into the water, rich countries and their people also have an obligation to help those who are far away in poverty. There are many criticisms of Singer’s moral argument, and his aid theory still faces some serious challenges: aid theory presupposes an unreasonable view of responsibility, the standard of “similar moral importance” imposes harsh requirements on people, and also faces some utilitarian criticism.
Keywords
Peter Singer, international aid, utilitarianism
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Cite this article
Li,Y. (2023). Revisiting Peter Singer’ s International Aid Theory: Interpretation and Challenges. Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media,23,17-21.
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Volume title: Proceedings of the International Conference on Global Politics and Socio-Humanities
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