moral/immoral/justice

1.Please read<Lifeboat Ethics:The Case Against helping the poor>by Garrentt Hardin, then consider these questions: 1)The central analogy on which Hardin’s argument rests is that human life on planet Earth is like living in an overcrowded lifeboat. Evaluate this analogy.2)Hardin’s view of the relationship between population growth and available resources can be described(though he doesn’t) as a zero-sum game. Do you agree with such a description? Why, or why not? 3)Please read<Famine,Affluence, and Morality>by Peter Singer and consider these questions: 1) Explain whether you agree with singer that, morally speaking, there is no difference between my coming to the aid of someone I know and love and coming to the aid of a stranger thousands of miles away, someone "whose name i shall never know" perhaps someone whom I would thoroughly dislike if I did know him or her? 2) What does Singer mean by the affluent giving money or other resources to the needy up to the point or level of "marginal utility)

2.Define zero sum game (Hardin); marginal utility (Singer).
3 According to Hardin, what is the tragedy of the commons? Lifeboat ethics?
4 According to Singer, what is the relationship of famine, affluence, and morality?
5 Include one case example from current or historical events?question of whether or not to share limited resources, such as food, money, medical, education, housing aid. Is it true that ?charity begins at home?? That there?s not enough to go around?

Considering ethos (and logos, pathos) and essays by Hardin and Singer, find a case example of national or international need; discuss how we should respond on ethical/moral grounds.

Regarding questions of ethos or morality, compare Hardin and Singer. Agree, disagree, a position in between?and why. Define terms and examine reading questions (see above).

Is there a limit to what we are expected to do for others? What is the relationship of knowledge, empathy, responsibility? Beyond family and friends, are we responsible for strangers?

Potential examples: war and famine in Sudan, Japan earthquake/nuclear meltdown relief, Haiti earthquake/flood relief (Paul Farmer?s PIH), Katrina in New Orleans, NGO or other aid organizations, foreign debt relief, renegotiating home mortgages, homelessness, soup kitchens, food security, any local, national, or international aid (Red Cross, UNICEF, WHO), microfinance (Mohammad Yunus? Grameen Bank), Gates Foundation, Soros Foundation.

Optional video sources: Robert Wright on non-zero-sumness, cooperation, how we are linked at
< https://www.ted.com/talks/robert_wright_on_optimism.html>. Why he advocates optimism.
What would Garrett Hardin say about this?

Steven Pinker on the myth of violence, the connection between communication and empathy at
< https://www.ted.com/talks/steven_pinker_on_the_myth_of_violence.html>. ?Anything that makes it easier to imagine trading places with someone else increases your moral consideration for that other person.? Agree or disagree? What is ?compassion fatigue??