Ursinus Intro Ethics Blog - Section A

Singer brings up a very important point about how the actions a person in our society takes are influenced by the expectations of the people around him. He states “What it is possible for a man to do and what he is likely to do are both, I think, very greatly influenced by what people around him are doing and expecting him to do” (Singer 237). This, I believe, is the reason that more is not done to help other societies around the world that require aid. It is not the fact that people feel like they are not able to sacrifice any of their funds, or even that they just don’t want to. It is the simple fact that no guilt is placed upon them if they let other people starve.
Many other moral obligations have some sort of societal consequence when a person doesn’t follow them. If a person treats others poorly, it will end up having an effect on his or her daily life, whether it is through their relationship with others or the guilt that is felt. As with Singer’s example of the boy drowning, a person would be looked down upon if they just stood there and watched the boy drown, instead of trying to help to his or her best ability. For many people, they may not want to help or go out of their way to save the boy, but it is ingrained into their mind that to save the child is the “right” thing to do.
Sadly, people may only feel guilt for not helping those far away who need aid when they fear that others will judge them for not helping.