What role does the claim that one should save a child drowning in a pond that one is walking past play in Singer's paper?
A) Singer argues that one is not obligated to save the child drowning; rather, one should call for help by dialing 9-1-1.
B) Singer uses the example of the child drowning in a pond to argue that we have duties to those near us who are in danger but not to those far away.
C) Singer uses this example to illustrate the main moral principle that he defends.
D) Singer uses this example to argue that people have obligations to teach children how to swim to avoid drowning deaths.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Singer uses the drowning child example to illustrate his main moral principle, which is that if it is in our power to prevent something bad from happening, without thereby sacrificing anything of comparable moral importance, we ought, morally, to do it. This principle underpins his argument for why we should help those in need, regardless of geographical distance.

What Role Does the Claim That One Should Save a Child