Philosophical Arguments for Increased Aid to Developing Countries

Abstract

The wealth disparity between developed and developing countries has resulted in widespread poverty and frequent support of terrorism in the developing world. However, developed countries have given only tenths of a percent of their respective gross national products recently to close this wealth gap. A better understanding of this situation requires a philosophical inquiry into the moral and practical implications of providing increased aid to developing countries. First, the author argues there is a moral obligation for people in developing countries to increase developing country aid. Second, the author argues that this increase in developing country aid will decrease the cumulative presence of world poverty and will improve the world economy. To emphasize these benefits, the author employs deontological and contemporary analysis techniques in the context of five potential objections to reinforce the need for increased developing country aid.