Revisiting Peter Singer s International Aid Theory: Interpretation and Challenges

Abstract

Utilitarianism is an important analysis path of international aid, Peter Singers international aid theory. It is one of the representative theories. The aid obligation of rich countries to poor countries is the core of Singers international aid theory. Peter Singer demonstrated the obligation of rich countries and their peoples to assist the poor abroad through the drowning child thinking experiment, and his theory of international aid was born. He believes that on the basis that people have an obligation to rescue children who have fallen into the water, rich countries and their people also have an obligation to help those who are far away in poverty. There are many criticisms of Singers moral argument, and his aid theory still faces some serious challenges: aid theory presupposes an unreasonable view of responsibility, the standard of similar moral importance imposes harsh requirements on people, and also faces some utilitarian criticism.