PHIL 1100 Lecture Notes - Lecture 21: Cappuccino, Supererogation, Applied Ethics

• School: Cornell University
• Department: Philosophy
• Course: PHIL 1100
• Professor: Karen Bennett

Document Summary

Applied ethics: a very concrete question about what we ought to do about a particular issue. Thinking about how philosophical views have real world consequences. Singer: spending money on luxuries rather than helping others in need. For example, donating money to famine relief/preventing suffering. Morally required to help others; wrong to spend money on mascara or a cappuccino. Not saying it is morally praiseworthy/kind; saying it is morally required to give up luxuries to prevent suffering because people"s basic needs are not being met. Calling it an equal moral obligation to not killing innocent people for no reason. Believes the line between moral obligatory and supererogatory is not where you think it is. It is not an act of charity, it is an act of duty. Living in affluence versus people who are dying of starvation. 1. suffering from death due to food, shelter, and medical care is very bad.