In a society where “giving food to starving kids in Africa” has become almost a cliché, utilitarian philosopher Peter Singer makes the readers of The New York Times step back and reevaluate their spending choices in his 1999 essay “The Singer Solution to World Poverty”. Through a mixture of examples and facts Singer calls upon those with excess money, typically used on luxuries, to instead donate that money for overseas aid agencies. In order to persuade the reader to follow through with his solution, he utilizes anecdotes and facts, emotional statements, and an impression to communicate the importance of donating to these agencies.
At the start of the article, Singer opens with an anecdote from the movie “Central Station”. He uses the character …show more content…
His main example throughout this portion of the article is Bob, the wealthy Bugatti owner who sacrifices a boy’s life to save his beloved car from an oncoming train. Singer claims that Bob is like a majority of his target audience, they can help but they choose not to. He points out that Bob’s situation is not necessarily unique; there are thousands of people who could do something and the American society more or less excuses it because so many do not help others in need. Maybe they do not intentionally throw a switch just to save their car when there is a child visible in the distance, but there is a kid out there somewhere that is put into danger because you spent the money for their dinner on your own $200 dinner.Everyone does it, and that is why is not viewed as a popular hot button topic, Americans have become complacent with their view on the rest of the world’s problems. Singer acknowledges that this thinking is “...the kind of ethics that led many Germans to look away when the Nazi atrocities were being committed.” Throughout this portion of essay, Singer addresses the audience’s expected objections by pointing out that they are to blame just as much as anyone who blatantly ignores the chance to assist relief
At the start of the article, Singer opens with an anecdote from the movie “Central Station”. He uses the character …show more content…
His main example throughout this portion of the article is Bob, the wealthy Bugatti owner who sacrifices a boy’s life to save his beloved car from an oncoming train. Singer claims that Bob is like a majority of his target audience, they can help but they choose not to. He points out that Bob’s situation is not necessarily unique; there are thousands of people who could do something and the American society more or less excuses it because so many do not help others in need. Maybe they do not intentionally throw a switch just to save their car when there is a child visible in the distance, but there is a kid out there somewhere that is put into danger because you spent the money for their dinner on your own $200 dinner.Everyone does it, and that is why is not viewed as a popular hot button topic, Americans have become complacent with their view on the rest of the world’s problems. Singer acknowledges that this thinking is “...the kind of ethics that led many Germans to look away when the Nazi atrocities were being committed.” Throughout this portion of essay, Singer addresses the audience’s expected objections by pointing out that they are to blame just as much as anyone who blatantly ignores the chance to assist relief