Introduction
Although the problem of hunger and poverty is well-known across the globe, only a few individuals or communities are eager to change the situation and help others. Several provocative questions about the worth of mutual support and care are raised, involving ethical principles and theories like deontology, consequentialism, and virtue ethics. Still, the truth remains the same – people are not able to resist climate change or natural disasters like Hurricanes Katrina or Sandy that devastated nations and provoked poverty and hunger (Timmons, 2020). Millions of families from around the world die because of a lack of food and appropriate living conditions. Thus, dealing with poverty and hunger is a moral obligation. We should help people in need to reduce suffering globally, promote the general good at the community level, and ensure we can improve personally.
Moral Theories
Deontology
During the course, a list of moral theories was clearly explained and discussed, and almost every approach can effectively explain the problem of global hunger and poverty. This paper will apply major theories such as virtue ethics, deontology, or consequentialism to prove the importance of helping others. For example, deontology deals with duty and moral obligation, and Kantian ethics is usually associated with this perspective (Timmons, 2020). A number of principles describe what is right and wrong, and it is a person’s responsibility to make the necessary choice. We should fulfill the duty of doing the right thing instead of thinking about outcomes or available resources.
Consequentialism
Consequentialism is another strong theory that aims at defining the moral value of people’s actions through the prism of consequences and the achieved results. Theorists who develop this approach believe it is important to define the right action by comparing the intrinsic values of choices and alternatives (Timmons, 2020). The best example of consequentialism is the possibility of saving many people’s lives at the expense of one life. Instead of focusing on personal goods and wealth, the idea of donation and sharing should be morally acceptable and promoted in communities.
Virtue Ethics
Finally, the theory of virtue ethics can be applied to this discussion to explain why helping others is a morally appropriate solution. Its main idea is to behave according to virtue considerations (the highest moral character) and avoid common vices (the lowest character). The correct action is associated with such critical virtues as dignity, loyalty, beneficence, and honesty (Timmons, 2020). Therefore, it is correct to help others by determining the moral weight of each action.
Reasons to Help Others
Today, relationships between people may be developed in various directions, depending on their attitudes, skills, abilities, and intentions. However, evaluating such serious problems as poverty and hunger should go far beyond personal ambitions and knowledge. Human suffering is a significant social burden that continues to bother many people. Singer (1971, as cited in Timmons, 2020) once said that if there is a chance for a person to prevent something bad without serious sacrifices, it has to be used because it is morally correct. In this discussion, I have three reasons to support helping people who struggle with hunger and poverty.
Deontology
First, we should help people reduce suffering at the global level. Following the principles of deontology, all people, regardless of their demographic or social characteristics, deserve the right to get help, which makes the offered decision the only right and moral action. As one of the brightest representatives of the deontological movement, Kant underlined the importance of a duty of beneficence (Timmons, 2020).
Some people with solid resources and opportunities to cover social and financial gaps are eager to share their possessions if it does not hurt them. There are also many developed and developing nations, and it is normal for countries that are stable to assist others in achieving similar results. Thus, such activities as free donations, charity meetings, and mutual exchange are highly promoted in modern society across the globe.
Consequentialism
Second, it is expected to ensure the good for all the community, and people need to observe the outcomes of their decisions from various perspectives. To explain the worth of this reason, I would like to address the theory of consequentialism. Helping others benefits many people, and it is ethically correct to pursue this purpose (Timmons, 2020). People might suffer from poverty or hunger because of different causes, not directly dependent on them. Communities must support all their members and ensure that most individuals get help and feel well.
Virtue Ethics
Third, when we decide to help others, we obtain a unique chance to ensure we can become better at the personal level. According to the virtue ethics theory, good actions display positive personal traits (Timmons, 2020). Sometimes, people might have a lot, including money, jobs, health, friends, and family, but they do not feel happy, as if something is missing. Doing right means applying virtues like honesty and dignity and avoiding vices like greed or pride. Hunger and poverty are global issues, and participation in their solutions helps ordinary people become complete and virtuous.
Weaknesses of the Argument
Deontology
Despite clear facts supporting the importance of helping others suffering from poverty and hunger, several limitations should not be ignored. For example, deontology promotes following the rules and standards defining the right actions. Still, this theory does not explain enough how these rules were created and what rationales must be considered. In other words, this approach lacks definitions of why help is a moral obligation.
Consequentialism
In consequentialism, the line of outcomes is not always easy to track. For example, if one person is ready to sacrifice some resources to benefit others, it is impossible to predict if these losses touch upon other individuals. Sometimes, decisions should be made quickly; no time for critical thinking and evaluation might lead to unpredictable outcomes.
Virtue Ethics
Finally, even the virtue ethics approach is characterized by specific weaknesses. On the one hand, certain qualities and virtues are correctly identified and explained for people to develop. On the other hand, there are no clear directions for people on how to behave. Thus, dealing with hunger and poverty can mean cooperating honestly and with dignity. Still, there are no guarantees that individuals understand what it means to be honest, loyal, or dignified.
Conclusion
In general, helping others suffering from hunger and poverty should be identified as a moral responsibility for every person. In the chosen ethical discussion, deontology, virtue ethics, and consequentialism play an essential role in defining right and wrong. Although many people try to behave ethically and morally correctly, not all have enough knowledge to clarify what principles should be followed. Thus, the application of moral theories in understanding moral behaviors is required. Despite the possible weaknesses, supportive arguments prevail, proving the worth of help to deal with hunger and poverty at global, community, and personal levels.
Reference
Timmons, M. (2020). Disputed moral issues: A reader (5th ed.). Oxford University Press.