1. Identify at least two differences between these two definitions of poverty.
2. What do you think are the "necessities of human life?" Are there necessities of human life that are different than the necessities of, say, a dog's life? If so, what are they?
3. Work out how much it would cost to live on your own for a month. What would you need (or want) for this month and what would it cost? (Include essentials like rent, food, and medical and non-essentials like entertainment or going out to eat.)
4. Multiply your monthly budget by 12 and compare it to the official poverty index for a single person in the U.S. in 2015: $11,770.
1. The Oxford Dictionary’s definition of poverty focuses on the inability to afford what is needed to survive. The necessities of life simply include food, water, clothing, and shelter. Whereas, the U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan’s definition of poverty states that poverty entails more than just the inability to afford what is necessary to live. Annan argues that the definition of poverty also includes the inability to have an enriched life which would include education, an occupation, self-actualization, esteem, opportunities, and safety.
2. …show more content…
The necessities to maintain human life consist of food, water, and shelter. However, beyond basic survival, humans need of safety, clothing, health care, education, access to services, and an opportunity for an occupation. Poverty can be relative as what is considered poor in the United States, might be considered Middle Class in the slums of Mumbai. The relative poverty level differs between each country and culture. Absolute poverty would limit humans access to the basic needs for survival. A dog’s needs are met as long as they stay above absolute poverty level. Dogs are not in need of education, an occupation, clothing, self-actualization, opportunities, etc. However, they do require
2. What do you think are the "necessities of human life?" Are there necessities of human life that are different than the necessities of, say, a dog's life? If so, what are they?
3. Work out how much it would cost to live on your own for a month. What would you need (or want) for this month and what would it cost? (Include essentials like rent, food, and medical and non-essentials like entertainment or going out to eat.)
4. Multiply your monthly budget by 12 and compare it to the official poverty index for a single person in the U.S. in 2015: $11,770.
1. The Oxford Dictionary’s definition of poverty focuses on the inability to afford what is needed to survive. The necessities of life simply include food, water, clothing, and shelter. Whereas, the U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan’s definition of poverty states that poverty entails more than just the inability to afford what is necessary to live. Annan argues that the definition of poverty also includes the inability to have an enriched life which would include education, an occupation, self-actualization, esteem, opportunities, and safety.
2. …show more content…
The necessities to maintain human life consist of food, water, and shelter. However, beyond basic survival, humans need of safety, clothing, health care, education, access to services, and an opportunity for an occupation. Poverty can be relative as what is considered poor in the United States, might be considered Middle Class in the slums of Mumbai. The relative poverty level differs between each country and culture. Absolute poverty would limit humans access to the basic needs for survival. A dog’s needs are met as long as they stay above absolute poverty level. Dogs are not in need of education, an occupation, clothing, self-actualization, opportunities, etc. However, they do require