December 18, 2009
What Should a Billionaire Give – and What Should You?
Peter Singer published this three years ago yesterday, in the New York Times Magazine:
What is a human life worth? You may not want to put a price tag on a it. But if we really had to, most of us would agree that the value of a human life would be in the millions. Consistent with the foundations of our democracy and our frequently professed belief in the inherent dignity of human beings, we would also agree that all humans are created equal, at least to the extent of denying that differences of sex, ethnicity, nationality and place of residence change the value of a human life.
With Christmas approaching, and Americans writing checks to their favorite charities, it’s a good time to ask how these two beliefs — that a human life, if it can be priced at all, is worth millions, and that the factors I have mentioned do not alter the value of a human life — square with our actions.
More here.
Posted by Abbas Raza at 05:46 AM | Permalink
Comments
I don't want to sound like Scrooge but ...
Posted by: tomkow | Dec 18, 2009 4:58:52 PM
He's definitely a philosopher, not an economist.
- What exactly is the difference between doing good out of a sense of duty and doing good because it makes you feel good? Doing your duty makes you feel good. All you're doing is taking the locus back one step.
- If you would let one person die to save two, why not dissect one healthy one to save seven (two kidneys, two half-lungs, heart, two liver-lobes, plus assorted other parts)? Would anybody sign their kid up for this?
- Gates and co aren't just providing money, they're also providing management for where the money goes. A larval form of that social capital that benefited them so much.
- Wouldn't charity be subject to the same supply-and-demand effects as any other economic activity? If we all give, would the price go up, or would economies of scale kick in?
and so on.
Posted by: ringo | Dec 19, 2009 9:37:12 PM
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