The Life You Can Save
Encyclopedia
The Life You Can Save: Acting Now to End World Poverty is a 2009 non-fiction book written by Australian philosopher Peter Singer
. In it, Singer argues that citizens of affluent nations are behaving immorally if they do not act to end the poverty they know to exist in developing nations.
The book covers philosophical issues of charity, the practical and psychological issues, including the reasons that people offer for not giving, resources for finding the most effective
charities, along with some other practical tips. Singer also proposes a standard of giving.
Singer says that having a right to spend money any way one wants does not change the way one ought to spend it. He also notes that other people may each be indifferent to the life they can save, that doesn't make a difference about whether specific people ought to act. This is the origin of the title of his book: even if other people do nothing to help those in need, individuals should still do as much as they can. Addressing readers directly, therefore, he challenges them what they will do about "the life you can save".
Singer references specific psychological studies to try and uncover why citizens of richer nations do not donate as much as they could or give at all). He mentions psychological theories including cognitive dissonance
, diffusion of responsibility
and evolutionary history of our ancestors. For instance, cognitive dissonance theory predicts that humans are rationalizing creatures, making it difficult to change their minds on topics that cause any anxiety unless they are highly motivated to bear it during long contemplation.
The author contends that humans are highly capable of establishing a society where giving is the norm. Singer cites groups that have empowered one another in this way. He hopes that a culture of giving would allow individuals to fully admit to themselves how selfish certain individuals have become with their money. He contrasts individuals like Paul Farmer
with billionaire Paul Allen
, who spent $200 million to build The Octopus, a 413 foot personal yacht that requires a crew of sixty (according to some estimates, that cost could save 200,000 lives).
Singer asks, "the question does not seem to be 'do you care about others more than yourself' but rather 'do you care about others a little?'"
as a way to identify the best charities.
Singer describes some common causes of death and suffering in poor countries along with the costs of their solutions; he suggests that the money "goes further" in such developing nations because of the nature of these causes. Among those issues discussed is the development of a Fistula
(surgically healed in 20 minutes for $450) which can render a girl socially outcast. The author also mentions that $50 nets can protect children from catching malaria
from mosquitos during the night. Singer emphasizes that there are many costs involved with putting these solutions into practice, and refers to an estimate of around $1000 to save one human life. The estimate is based on the reports from a few charities that have proven their effectiveness.
s and decrease the risks of overpopulation and that affluent nations consume much more food than they need by feeding it to animals and eating the animals. Singer states, "the only looming 'danger' is mass vegetarianism".
Singer settles on a standard of at least 1% of net income (although he goes into more detail about how this percentage might increase as one's income increases). He justifies his decision by saying that, although we ought to give much more (as he claims to have proven), it is not practical to demand much more, and trying to do so may turn people off from giving anything at all. Singer emphasizes the importance of being practical when it comes to getting as much money as possible to the poor, even if that means holding people to lower standards as a means of changing their habits.
The author then says that one can use their last tax return to determine how much Singer's standard (1% of net income) suggests that you give. Singer next suggests deciding how much to donate, contending that even donating less money than his "standard" is undebatably still a good thing to do. Finally the author says that one should donate.
Singer further suggests taking steps to foster a culture of giving. He recommends using all available social networks to let others know that they, like you, can be a small part of the solution. This is to be done carefully, staying positive and completely avoiding the emotion of guilt
(since cognitive dissonance
is already quite high in discussions of charity). He also argues that one should suggest, to their employing institution, that they set up pay scheme in which employees can explicitly opt-out of giving 1% of their pre-tax income to charity. Writing a letter to one's local representative (to let them know you want your country's foreign aid directed to the world's poorest people only) is recommended by Singer.
Singer maintains that the last, important step of donating is to feel good about making a difference. He argues that too much guilt may result in inaction, dooming the poor.
The book has seen much other publicity. Publisher's Weekly said "Singer dismantles the justifications people make for not giving..."
Peter Singer
Peter Albert David Singer is an Australian philosopher who is the Ira W. DeCamp Professor of Bioethics at Princeton University and Laureate Professor at the Centre for Applied Philosophy and Public Ethics at the University of Melbourne...
. In it, Singer argues that citizens of affluent nations are behaving immorally if they do not act to end the poverty they know to exist in developing nations.
The book covers philosophical issues of charity, the practical and psychological issues, including the reasons that people offer for not giving, resources for finding the most effective
Effective giving
- Principles behind the effective giving movement :* Be confident that your donation will be used effectively. By relying on recommendations of where to give that are based on high-quality evidence about what works, you can be confident your donation will be well-used.* Change incentives for...
charities, along with some other practical tips. Singer also proposes a standard of giving.
The philosophical argument
Singer argues that it is obvious that we, as individuals, 'ought' to save a child from drowning unless we are risking something as valuable as the child's life. He then contends that as many as 27,000 children die every day (about 18 per minute) from poverty that could be easily and cheaply helped by existing charities. Singer asks the reader to imagine just how much they could give up, starting with bottled water, before their only possessions would be of a value anywhere near that of a human life. He then asks whether (without giving up everything one owns) the reader would give up that daily bottled water if one found a charity where most of one's donation got to those in need.Singer says that having a right to spend money any way one wants does not change the way one ought to spend it. He also notes that other people may each be indifferent to the life they can save, that doesn't make a difference about whether specific people ought to act. This is the origin of the title of his book: even if other people do nothing to help those in need, individuals should still do as much as they can. Addressing readers directly, therefore, he challenges them what they will do about "the life you can save".
The psychology of giving (or not giving)
Cognitive dissonance
Cognitive dissonance is a discomfort caused by holding conflicting ideas simultaneously. The theory of cognitive dissonance proposes that people have a motivational drive to reduce dissonance. They do this by changing their attitudes, beliefs, and actions. Dissonance is also reduced by justifying,...
, diffusion of responsibility
Diffusion of responsibility
Diffusion of responsibility is a sociopsychological phenomenon. It refers to the tendency of any individual person to avoid taking action, or refraining from action, when others are present. Considered a form of attribution, the individual assumes that either others are responsible for taking...
and evolutionary history of our ancestors. For instance, cognitive dissonance theory predicts that humans are rationalizing creatures, making it difficult to change their minds on topics that cause any anxiety unless they are highly motivated to bear it during long contemplation.
The author contends that humans are highly capable of establishing a society where giving is the norm. Singer cites groups that have empowered one another in this way. He hopes that a culture of giving would allow individuals to fully admit to themselves how selfish certain individuals have become with their money. He contrasts individuals like Paul Farmer
Paul Farmer
Dr. Paul Edward Farmer is an American anthropologist and physician. He is currently the Kolokotrones University Professor at Harvard University, formerly the Presley Professor of Medical Anthropology in the Department of Social Medicine at Harvard Medical School, an attending physician and Chief...
with billionaire Paul Allen
Paul Allen
Paul Gardner Allen is an American business magnate, investor, and philanthropist. Allen co-founded Microsoft with Bill Gates...
, who spent $200 million to build The Octopus, a 413 foot personal yacht that requires a crew of sixty (according to some estimates, that cost could save 200,000 lives).
Singer asks, "the question does not seem to be 'do you care about others more than yourself' but rather 'do you care about others a little?'"
The actual state of foreign aid today
Singer attempts to debunk the idea that all charities are inefficient or corrupt. He endorses GiveWellGivewell
GiveWell is an American non-profit charity evaluator created in 2006 by two former finance industry workers, Holden Karnofsky and Elie Hassenfeld. GiveWell's goal is to use an evidence based approach by examining results empirically and avoiding anecdotes and appeals to stories. They investigate...
as a way to identify the best charities.
Singer describes some common causes of death and suffering in poor countries along with the costs of their solutions; he suggests that the money "goes further" in such developing nations because of the nature of these causes. Among those issues discussed is the development of a Fistula
Fistula
In medicine, a fistula is an abnormal connection or passageway between two epithelium-lined organs or vessels that normally do not connect. It is generally a disease condition, but a fistula may be surgically created for therapeutic reasons.-Locations:Fistulas can develop in various parts of the...
(surgically healed in 20 minutes for $450) which can render a girl socially outcast. The author also mentions that $50 nets can protect children from catching malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
from mosquitos during the night. Singer emphasizes that there are many costs involved with putting these solutions into practice, and refers to an estimate of around $1000 to save one human life. The estimate is based on the reports from a few charities that have proven their effectiveness.
Singer's new standard of giving
The author argues against the idea that the earth's limited resources are an argument against donating; Singer contends that education and development actually lead to lower birth rateBirth rate
Crude birth rate is the nativity or childbirths per 1,000 people per year . Another word used interchangeably with "birth rate" is "natality". When the crude birth rate is subtracted from the crude death rate, it reveals the rate of natural increase...
s and decrease the risks of overpopulation and that affluent nations consume much more food than they need by feeding it to animals and eating the animals. Singer states, "the only looming 'danger' is mass vegetarianism".
Singer settles on a standard of at least 1% of net income (although he goes into more detail about how this percentage might increase as one's income increases). He justifies his decision by saying that, although we ought to give much more (as he claims to have proven), it is not practical to demand much more, and trying to do so may turn people off from giving anything at all. Singer emphasizes the importance of being practical when it comes to getting as much money as possible to the poor, even if that means holding people to lower standards as a means of changing their habits.
Singer's Seven Steps
According to the author, there are several steps that one can take to become a part of the solution to world poverty. Singer first recommends visiting the book's website, www.TheLifeYouCanSave.com, for resources, but also to consider taking a pledge to meet his (presumably low) standards of giving. This pledge, Singer argues, increases the odds that you will give. Singer next argues that one should use those provided resources, including www.givewell.net, to effectively decide which organization(s) to donate to.The author then says that one can use their last tax return to determine how much Singer's standard (1% of net income) suggests that you give. Singer next suggests deciding how much to donate, contending that even donating less money than his "standard" is undebatably still a good thing to do. Finally the author says that one should donate.
Singer further suggests taking steps to foster a culture of giving. He recommends using all available social networks to let others know that they, like you, can be a small part of the solution. This is to be done carefully, staying positive and completely avoiding the emotion of guilt
Guilt
Guilt is the state of being responsible for the commission of an offense. It is also a cognitive or an emotional experience that occurs when a person realizes or believes—accurately or not—that he or she has violated a moral standard, and bears significant responsibility for that...
(since cognitive dissonance
Cognitive dissonance
Cognitive dissonance is a discomfort caused by holding conflicting ideas simultaneously. The theory of cognitive dissonance proposes that people have a motivational drive to reduce dissonance. They do this by changing their attitudes, beliefs, and actions. Dissonance is also reduced by justifying,...
is already quite high in discussions of charity). He also argues that one should suggest, to their employing institution, that they set up pay scheme in which employees can explicitly opt-out of giving 1% of their pre-tax income to charity. Writing a letter to one's local representative (to let them know you want your country's foreign aid directed to the world's poorest people only) is recommended by Singer.
Singer maintains that the last, important step of donating is to feel good about making a difference. He argues that too much guilt may result in inaction, dooming the poor.
Reaction
In June 2010, Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffet launched the "Billionaires' Pledge" - calling on all billionaires to give at least half their wealth to philanthropic causes - with an interview with Charlie Rose. In the interview, Melinda Gates mentioned Singer's The Life You Can Save, referring to it as suggesting the importance of knowing that other members of your "reference set" - that is, your peers - are also helping others. Charlie Rose then referred to Singer as having proposed a pledge similar to the Billionaires' Pledge, but for people of all income groups.The book has seen much other publicity. Publisher's Weekly said "Singer dismantles the justifications people make for not giving..."