Generosity is a wonderful personality trait to have when it comes to human interaction and connection, but when suffering is a possible outcome, it brings into question whether generosity relieves suffering or is there suffering in generosity? Evans and Singer both exhibit an argument with being generous. However, Evans showed suffering in being generous while Singer saw generosity in relieving suffering. Wilson on the other hand, supports the work of Evans and challenges the work of Singer’s, in a psychological way, on free will in their depiction of generosity displayed through reasoning. In Evans’ work, Threads, Evans along with two other volunteers are volunteering in a refugee camp at the boarder of France. One of the refugees that she
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Singer believes that “a given sum of money does much more to reduce suffering and save lives if we use it to assist people living in extreme poverty in developing countries than it would do if we gave it to most other charitable causes” (7) One of the most effective ways to do more good is to earn to give, meaning that one should earn more, so they will be able to donate more of their income to those in need, while still being able to live modestly. He believes that anyone can be an effective altruist, regardless of background and/or economic status, even though capitalism is creating a wider gap between the rich and the poor. Singer addresses the gap by saying on page 50 that “It isn’t clear that making the rich richer without making the poor poorer has bad consequences, overall. It increases the ability of the rich to help the poor” that is only if the rich decide to help the poor through generosity or not, it is the choice of the individual. As Wilson mentioned “Because the individual mind cannot be fully described by itself or by any separate researcher, the self – celebrated star player in the scenarios of consciousness – can go on passionately believing in its independence and free will.” Meaning that the mind will do whatever the mind desires to what seems beneficiary because that is how one should live, but if those desires are not met, misery and hopelessness can take control, causing one to question their own life and purpose. Singer said that most effective altruists are happy with donating, because “earning to give allows you to have things that people believe make them happy, like money and a high-status job, while still getting the fulfillment that comes from knowing you are helping to make the world a better place.” (Singer 47) However, one
Singer believes that “a given sum of money does much more to reduce suffering and save lives if we use it to assist people living in extreme poverty in developing countries than it would do if we gave it to most other charitable causes” (7) One of the most effective ways to do more good is to earn to give, meaning that one should earn more, so they will be able to donate more of their income to those in need, while still being able to live modestly. He believes that anyone can be an effective altruist, regardless of background and/or economic status, even though capitalism is creating a wider gap between the rich and the poor. Singer addresses the gap by saying on page 50 that “It isn’t clear that making the rich richer without making the poor poorer has bad consequences, overall. It increases the ability of the rich to help the poor” that is only if the rich decide to help the poor through generosity or not, it is the choice of the individual. As Wilson mentioned “Because the individual mind cannot be fully described by itself or by any separate researcher, the self – celebrated star player in the scenarios of consciousness – can go on passionately believing in its independence and free will.” Meaning that the mind will do whatever the mind desires to what seems beneficiary because that is how one should live, but if those desires are not met, misery and hopelessness can take control, causing one to question their own life and purpose. Singer said that most effective altruists are happy with donating, because “earning to give allows you to have things that people believe make them happy, like money and a high-status job, while still getting the fulfillment that comes from knowing you are helping to make the world a better place.” (Singer 47) However, one