The Rationales for Giving series delves into the wide-ranging reasons why individuals and organizations should support charities fighting extreme poverty. Building on Peter Singer’s ethical insights from The Life You Can Save, this series explores moral, economic, social, psychological, and other compelling perspectives. Through these diverse viewpoints, we aim to inspire thoughtful and impactful giving, cultivate a culture of global empathy and responsibility, and make the case that addressing global poverty is not just a moral imperative, but also a smart and strategic investment in a better future.
The end of the year is often a time of reflection, gratitude, and resolution. Toward that end, we at The Life You Can Save are revisiting our mission to change the way people think about and donate to charity with a broadened, multi-perspective approach. In a new six-article article series called The Rationales for Giving, we’re inviting some thought leaders we admire to present their motivations to combat extreme poverty.
First up: philosopher, professor, and The Life You Can Save co-founder Peter Singer reintroduces his well-known moral rationale for donating, and asks if there’s more we can do to end the global poverty crisis.
Some may say that we should first help those in need in our own community. But from an ethical perspective, physical closeness is less relevant than the extent of the needs we can alleviate with our resources, which are never unlimited.
Research shows that helping others really does seem to be good for us. Generosity brings happiness, reduces stress, and strengthens social bonds—benefits that extend beyond the immediate act of giving, creating lasting positive effects for both the giver and the recipient.
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