Philosophy
The Ethics of Philanthropy and the Duties of the Wealthy
Quick fact
In his 1972 essay 'Famine, Affluence, and Morality,' philosopher Peter Singer argued that if it is in your power to prevent something bad without sacrificing anything of comparable moral importance, you are morally obligated to do it—a standard that implies the wealthy should give far more than they currently do.
Why this is interesting
We often praise billionaires for their charitable donations, but what if they are not being generous—what if they are just paying a moral debt?