Is It Wrong Not to Help?By: Amber Sime

Chapter Summary and Arguments

• Bob and his choice to save his Bugatti or a child

• Amount of Sacrifice-Hiker-Cutting Back

• The Golden Rule - “Do unto others as you would have them do to you.”

Ways of Getting His Message Across1. “How could suffering and death from lack of food, shelter, and

medical care not be really, really bad? Think of that small boy in Ghana who died of measles. How you would feel if you were his mother or father, watching helplessly as your son suffers and grows weaker?” (16)

2. - “To make sure his message wasn’t missed, he went on to say that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” ….. “He places far more emphasis on charity for the poor than on anything else”(19).- “The Hebrew word for “charity,” tzedakah, simply means “justice” and, as this suggests, for Jews, giving to the poor is no optional extra but an essential part of living a just life” (21)- “Islam, too, requires its adherents to help those in need. Each year, Muslims above a minimum level of wealth must give zakat in proportion to their assets (not income)” (21).

Discussion Question #1

• In a 2000 Interview with Ronald Bailey1, Singer says that it cost the average American household just $30,000 to live. He also says that if the household is making $100,000, $70,000 should be given away to charity. Do you think this case is extreme or do you believe that is the right thing to do?

1. "The Pursuit of Happiness, Peter Singer interviewed by Ronald Bailey." Reason.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Aug. 2010. <http://reason.com/archives/2000/12/01/the-pursuit-of-happiness-peter>.

Discussion Question #2

• In the book Singer says it’s wrong to save for retirement because with the money you are saving for yourself you could save a child. With the understanding of that, do you still think it is okay to save for retirement?