Most people are clowns. This is not the clownshow you are looking for.
^other ideas from Peter Singer, OH YEA they are pretty clownish/strange.
So first off he does donate a fair bit. Enough for us to go "he does a bit of what he say he does".
en.wikipedia.org
The basic premise:
- First premise: Suffering and death from lack of food, shelter and medical care are bad.
- Second premise: If it is in your power to prevent something bad from happening, without sacrificing anything nearly as important, it is wrong not to do so.
- Third premise: By donating to aid agencies, you can prevent suffering and death from lack of food, shelter and medical care, without sacrificing anything nearly as important.
- Conclusion: Therefore, if you do not donate to aid agencies, you are doing something wrong.
That's pretty logical. Lets work an example:
You have spare change. People like Fred Hollows go to the third world and preform eye saving surgery. For the cost to of $5 a week, you could sponsor Fred's team for ~$20 per month.
aka deblinding 1 person a year if I remember their figures.
You may go "stuff it, I want my coffee". Sure fine. Yet if your Christian*/Muslim/Hindu/Bahai/Buddist/believe most religions you are oblidged to 'not do wrong'. Also if you are "Humanist" or Atheist with a societial moral outlook then you are also oblidged.
You do You! That said the logic is sound.
*some Christian denominations believe it's between you and god only. My view is this was a hard stick the Catholics used to whack Luther with and it's a poor argument not to be charitable.