Testing the Motivational Strength of Positive and Negative Duty Arguments Regarding Global Poverty

AbstractTwo main types of philosophical arguments have been given in support of the claim that the citizens of affluent societies have stringent moral duties to aid the global poor: “positive duty” arguments based on the notion of beneficence and “negative duty” arguments based on noninterference. Peter Singer’s positive duty argument (Singer Philosophy and Public Affairs 1:229–243, Singer 1972) and Thomas Pogge’s negative duty argument (Pogge 2002) are among the most prominent examples. Philosophers have made speculative claims about the relative effectiveness of these arguments in promoting attitudes and behaviors that could lead to the alleviation of poverty. In this article we present the results of two empirical studies that evaluate these claims, and suggest that both arguments have a modest effect on people’s attitudes and behaviors regarding global poverty. In a replication of the second study, the negative duty argument, in particular, had a statistically significant effect on donations. We discuss the theoretical and practical significance of these results and suggest directions for further research on the role that philosophical arguments can play in engendering concern and action on pressing moral problems.

Download Full-text

How Different Are the Nordics? Unravelling the Willingness to Make Economic Sacrifices for the Environment

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13031294 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (3) ◽

pp. 1294

Author(s):

Joseph Anthony L. Reyes

Keyword(s):

Multinomial Logistic Regression ◽

Statistical Tests ◽

Empirical Studies ◽

Environmental Policies ◽

Social Survey ◽

Proenvironmental Behavior ◽

Attitudes And Behaviors ◽

Nordic Region ◽

And Behaviors ◽

Nonparametric Statistical

The Nordic countries are often considered as remarkably exceptional in terms of the proenvironmental behavior of their citizens and also as forerunners in environmental policies. However, very few empirical studies have been done at the aggregated level about how the Nordics compare to other countries. The article addresses this knowledge gap and analyzes the Nordic region in terms of willingness to make economic sacrifices, proenvironmental attitudes and behaviors. Data (N = 5877) from the environment module of the International Social Survey Program (ISSP) are utilized, with nonparametric statistical tests and multinomial logistic regression employed—wherein, emphasis is placed on the regression models for willingness as dependent variables as analysis of the first order, with attitudes, behaviors and sociodemographic variables as part of second order analysis. The findings reveal that the region’s higher levels of willingness, attitudes, and behaviors become more salient when compared to third countries. People in the Nordic region who are ‘neither willing nor unwilling’ to protect the environment can be considered as distinct, and should not be arbitrarily lumped within the categories of the ‘unwilling’ or ‘willing’ respondents. These insights allow for a deeper understanding of peoples’ willingness and the relationships to respective attitudes and behaviors beneficial towards engaging the acceptability of extant environmental policies.

Download Full-text

Contributing and Benefiting: Two Grounds for Duties to the Victims of Injustice

Ethics & International Affairs ◽

10.1111/j.1747-7093.2005.tb00488.x ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

pp. 39-45 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Norbert Anwander

Keyword(s):

Social Order ◽

Global Poverty ◽

Positive Duty ◽

Thomas Pogge ◽

The Poor ◽

Negative Duty ◽

Harmful Effects ◽

Do So

Contrasting his own position with that of those who conceive the moral challenge of global poverty in terms of a positive duty to help, Thomas Pogge suggests that “we may be failing to fulfill our stringent negative duty not to uphold injustice, not to contribute to or profit from [emphasis added] the unjust impoverishment of others” (p. 197). We should conceive of our individual donations and of possible institutionalized initiatives to eradicate poverty not as helping the poor but “as protecting them from the effects of global rules whose injustice benefits us and is our responsibility” (p. 23, emphasis added). Pogge also claims that such activities should be understood in terms of compensation: “The word ‘compensate’ is meant to indicate that how much one should be willing to contribute toward reforming unjust institutions and toward mitigating the harms they cause depends on how much one is contributing to, and benefiting from, their maintenance” (p. 50, emphasis added).In characterizing wrongful involvement in an unjust social order and the compensatory duties that arise from it, Pogge refers to the terms contribution/responsibility as well as to benefit/profit (the latter are used interchangeably). The first of these factors is unobjectionable: we can take it for granted that there is a negative duty not to contribute to injustice and that those who are responsible for harmful institutions should compensate their victims. I want to raise doubts, however, about the role that Pogge assigns to benefiting from injustice in the determination of our duties toward the victims of injustice. I shall do so by challenging his claim that there is a negative duty not to benefit from injustice, and that the role that benefiting from injustice plays in determining our duties to work toward reforming unjust practices and mitigating their harmful effects is best understood in terms of compensation.

Download Full-text

Bioterrorism-Related Beliefs, Attitudes and Behaviors of Community-Based Clinicians

Prehospital and Disaster Medicine ◽

10.1017/s1049023x00010165 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 17 (S2) ◽

pp. S48

Author(s):

Robyn R. M. Gershon ◽

Kristine A. Qureshi ◽

Stephen S. Morse ◽

Marissa A. Berrera ◽

Catherine B. Dela Cruz

Keyword(s):

Community Based ◽

Attitudes And Behaviors ◽

And Behaviors

Download Full-text

The Impact of Universal Suicide-Prevention Programs on the Help-Seeking Attitudes and Behaviors of Youths

Crisis ◽

10.1027/0227-5910/a000178 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 34 (2) ◽

pp. 82-97 ◽

Cited By ~ 57

Author(s):

Bonnie Klimes-Dougan ◽

David A. Klingbeil ◽

Sarah J. Meller

Keyword(s):

Suicide Prevention ◽

Help Seeking ◽

Prevention Programs ◽

Universal Prevention ◽

Help Seeking Attitudes ◽

Attitudes And Behaviors ◽

Seeking Behavior ◽

And Behaviors ◽

Suicide Prevention Programs ◽

The Impact

Background: While the ultimate goal of adolescent suicide-prevention efforts is to decrease the incidence of death by suicide, a critical intermediary goal is directing youths toward effective sources of assistance. Aim: To comprehensively review the universal prevention literature and examine the effects of universal prevention programs on student’s attitudes and behaviors related to help-seeking. Method: We systematically reviewed studies that assessed help-seeking outcomes including prevention efforts utilizing (1) psychoeducational curricula, (2) gatekeeper training, and (3) public service messaging directed at youths. Of the studies reviewed, 17 studies evaluated the help-seeking outcomes. These studies were identified through a range of sources (e.g., searching online databases, examining references of published articles on suicide prevention). Results: The results of this review suggest that suicide-prevention programming has a limited impact on help-seeking behavior. Although there was some evidence that suicide-prevention programs had a positive impact on students’ help-seeking attitudes and behaviors, there was also evidence of no effects or iatrogenic effects. Sex and risk status were moderators of program effects on students help-seeking. Conclusions: Caution is warranted when considering which suicidal prevention interventions best optimize the intended goals. The impact on adolescents’ help-seeking behavior is a key concern for educators and mental-health professionals.

Download Full-text