Based on the article "Famine, Affluence, and Morality" by Peter Singer

Question

What does Singer mean when he says that the unqualified moral obligation to prevent something bad from happening “takes no account of proximity.”?

A. Distance is irrelevant to moral obligation.

B. Charity begins at home.

C. It is more important to help those we know than to help strangers.

D. Moral obligations are events.

Answer 1

A. Distance is irrelevant to moral obligation.

In "Famine, Affluence, and Morality," Peter Singer argues that our moral obligations to help others are not diminished by distance. He suggests that we have an equal responsibility to help those who are suffering, regardless of whether they are nearby or far away. Therefore, when he states that moral obligation “takes no account of proximity,” he is emphasizing that the need to prevent suffering should not be influenced by how close or far away the person in need is.