PHILOS 2YY3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 18: Effective Altruism, Givewell, Normative Ethics

• School: McMaster University
• Department: Philosophy
• Course: PHILOS 2YY3
• Professor: Jeffrey D' Souza

Document Summary

Applied ethics: branch of ethics concerned with applying normative ethical theories to real life issues. E. g. just war theory, bioethics, environmental ethics, etc. Inequality: not all humans are equally well off, there are many who do not have enough materials to survive (empirical fact) Moral inculpability: most of the individuals who are needy do not deserve to be in this position (many not responsible for their position, and are not in position to help themselves) Unjust and unfair situation: it is unfair/unjust that some individuals are needy while others have all needs met. Special duties to the needy: we have a moral obligation to see to it that various groups of individuals who fall below the threshold have their quality of living raised to said threshold.