What do I owe my neighbour?
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2021-06-17
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en
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Abstract
Christianity recognizes a substantial duty of beneficence towards our neighbour. But how much in beneficence do we owe our neighbour? That is the question of this thesis. To provide an answer two opposing philosophical positions are examined in an comparative-evaluative analysis. The first position is that of the extremist as articulated by philosopher Shelly Kagan. He argues that we are always under an obligation to do good if that entails comparatively little cost to us. The second position is that of the moderate. The moderate claims that we have a limited duty to beneficence. Philosopher Garrett Cullity defends the moderate position with an argument from presupposition. In doing so he not only rejects the position of the extremist but also determines how much we owe to our neighbour.
I have to help the needy until contributing more would endanger my quality of life with a requirement-grounding amount. An amount that would put a moral obligation on others to help me to restore that quality.
Cullity’s view coheres well with the Christian call for a substantive amount of beneficence towards our neighbour while permitting ourselves a good but sober life. A view that makes this position acceptable to both the secular and the Christian.
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Faculteit der Filosofie, Theologie en Religiewetenschappen