Whenever people think about assisting others, two distinct ways appear to be more common for the course. First, they believe in supporting the other people through devoting a part of their lives just to assist others as Peter Singer did. Second, they think of using their income to help other people. Peter Singer is arguably a utilitarian and makes use of the principle of altruism. The principle of altruism involves the practice of people having selflessness concerning others and thinking only about the well-being of other people. In contrast, Kelsey Timmerman uses the principle of egoism in which he believes that he helps people through creating job opportunities. He thinks that by establishing sweetshops would be a way of creating income to people working in the sweatshops. The paper will provide an analysis of the two sets of principles and discuss the way in which I may extend happiness within my field of job by utilizing the principles acquired from the two texts.
In today’s society, when people think about helping others, they feel about devoting money, time or advice in their effort to assist others. Peter Singer ascertained that Matt used to spend ten percent of his income to a charity which was aiming to help the malaria patients and he was mostly involved in finding the most effective ways that he could utilize to support a maximum number of individuals possible using the income that he earned. The principle of altruism entails people using their resources with the aim of improving others to impact the society (Klikauer 278). Therefore the altruism principle involves giving back to the community.
Conversely, Kelsey Timmerman is found embracing the notion that the establishment of sweatshops across the globe will lead to the creation of incomes to many families which they make use of to support their needs. Timmerman’s way of thinking is seen to be ethical egoism, which is a principle which treats self-interest as the foundation of morality. Kelsey Timmerman gives an example that he was considered the best-dressed student in high school and he, therefore, grew appreciating different styles of clothing throughout his college and high school life. When he was in college, he realized that although all the American stores are found supporting the community, they mostly sell products that have been made by sweatshops from third world countries which make little income (Timmerman 26). Therefore, the principle used by Kelsey Timmerman helps people in the society through keeping individuals employed which makes it contradictory from the principle of altruism by Peter Singer.
In the culinary field from where I work, we obtain products from different places of the world hence we are found to be ethically egotistically helping the third world nations in maintaining their incomes. Conversely, if our organization decides to raise money and support the needy people in the society, then there is a possibility that this principle will maximize happiness as the company would have a significant impact on the community and it may attract more clients for being altruistic. Many people in the world are found to be utilizing the principle of egotism and they prove that they only right way to live is by earning an honest income whereas the principle of altruism is rarely used in the society since not many people in the community are found to be ready to risk their income, wellbeing, and life for other people.
- Klikauer, Thomas. “Peter Singer. The Most Good You Can Do: How Effective Altruism Is Changing Ideas About Living Ethically. Reviewed by.” Philosophy in Review 36.6 (2016): 278-280.
- Timmerman, Kelsey. “Where am I wearing it?” A Global Tour to the Countries, Factories, and People that Make Our Clothes. Hoboken, NJ: Willey (2012): 26.