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Jocelyn Perez
HUP104
Professor Chaffee
Fall 1 2008
What’s For Lunch?
1. Imagine that you have been asked to address the Annual Convention of Ethical Egoists (ACEE)on the issue of world hunger.
What would you say about world hunger to those who believe that their only moral duty is to promote their own welfare?
Ladies and gentlemen, I welcome you to the third Annual Convention of Ethical Egoists. We
have gathered once again to address the issues affecting nations across the globe. As you all
know, along with war and global warming, world hunger has been a direct result of human
actions. Power-hungry corporations and destructive economies have run rampant, leaving
millions poverty stricken and starving. These people are in desperate need for aid and social
reform. Why should this plea appeal to you, you ask? Why should you stand up against a ruthless
adversary? What could there possibly be to gain?
You would come to gain prestige, and opportunity, which could lead to a highly influential role
in society. By taking part in a campaign to end world hunger, each of you will be perceived as an
honorable individual and an active contributor to humanity. These qualities inspire respect and
admiration from others, who may, in effect, wish to help as well due to your exemplary actions.
This paves the way for endless opportunities. For all you college bound students in the audience
or those passing around resumes, you should seriously consider joining these types of
organizations. You will know for a fact that you made a difference in this world, when others
chose to look the other way. Believe me, the experience also looks amazing on paper, employers
and college representatives will praise you for your efforts. Someone of your high moral
standing would be quite worthy of admission, scholarships or promotion opportunities. Fast
forward a couple of years and you’ll be the one’s running the show and be in a better position to
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change the course of this world’s future.
For those of you who already hold important positions or have retired, you may find that
dedicating yourself to this cause will prove to be incredibly rewarding, not only for selffulfillment but in terms of social standing. Your elevated moral values will be made example of
and others will strive to emulate your image. You will be regarded as an influential figurehead,
whose opinion will come to be valued and respected. Think about it… foundations, and
scholarships, in your name.
We must keep in mind that world hunger is a real issue affecting real nations that it truly needs
to be addressed. So, although we pursue our own self-interests in doing so, we need to do as
much as possible in order to help them. This may seem selfish to an outsider, but it would be
only fair after devoting time and effort to such a cause. American author, Ayn Rand asserted that
it is human nature to strive for our own interests in our everyday actions, but this it does not
necessarily mean that someone will be reckless and use their right as “ a license ‘to do as he
pleases.’ ” (Chaffee 446)
As thinking beings, we have the ability to make positive choices and look out for our
wellbeing. I promise that having someone else positively influenced because of your direct
actions, will leave a profound effect. Whether it results from a bowl of food that you provide to a
hungry child or the tears of joy you generate from an onlooker, the experience will be left for
you to discover.
2. Imagine that you have been asked to address the Annual Convention of Compassionate Persons (ACCP) on the issue of world
hunger and the dangers of excessive compassion. What would you have to say to this audience of compassionate people about
the dangers and pitfalls of overly compassionate responses to world hunger?
Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to the fifth Annual Convention of Compassionate Persons. We
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have gathered once again to discuss world issues with open hearts and hopefully, tonight with
open ears. I have come to address one of the major issues plaguing the world’s nations: hunger. I
know that this organization has done a tremendous amount of fundraising and volunteer work
towards this effort. However, I have am here tonight to warn of the potential dangers that lie
ahead if you continue to blindly assist these populations.
There is always an obvious risk of dependency. These countries will begin to see international
organizations as their safeguards and will regard them as their primary caretakers. We will be
their sole sources of food and if we cannot provide enough, they will claim that we are not doing
enough. Garrett Hardin suggests this same theory when referring to the World Food Bank. He
explains that in times of need some countries develop better strategies for dealing with food
shortages, but one cannot expect a poor nation who is dependant on our deposits to advance any
further. “Someone will always come to their aid…As a result…the poor countries will not learn
to mend their ways, and will suffer progressively greater emergencies as their populations grow.”
(Hardin 339) The people might begin to compete for food and the waiting lines will become
aggressive. We could be laying the groundwork for complete chaos.
These expectations keep us from dealing with the original problem, by instead covering it up
and continuing the cycle. Instead, we must slow down the distribution of supplies and initiate
change by tackling the employment problems and population increases. Funding research teams
and educational services will prove more beneficial for both parties.
We cannot let them take advantage of our selflessness and willingness to help during these
desperate times. Doing your part to promote change and development in these poor nations is a
noble endeavor, and having it backfire will do your efforts no justice.
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3. Imagine that you have been asked by the president of the United States to draft a policy statement on the question of how the
United States should respond to world hunger. Identify the main points that you think such a policy statement should contain.
The evils of world hunger have run rampant long enough and the time has come to put an end
to it. The America’s Young Community Effort, also referred to as “All You Can Eat”, has
outlined a strategy for solving this horrible problem. We would like to restore a high quality
standard of living for the people of these poor nations and guarantee that they will have the
expected three meals daily. We wish to give them back their sense of livelihood and remove the
present sense of desperation.
This policy will affect all countries now considered “third world nations” a term often used for
the developing countries of Latin America, Asia and Africa and should take effect immediately.
The United States government should be obligated to aid these nations because of its stature and
as an act of moral decency.
Fundraising will provide funds for advertising the various food drives being held across the
country. Small shipments and distribution will be done via commuter planes for faster access.
The feeding centers in these countries will be managed directly by our staff so that distribution to
the families may be better regulated.
Educational centers will also be established in order to promote literacy, character development
and employment opportunities. Contraception practices will also be taught and contraceptives
will be readily available. This will bring attention to the rapidly growing populations and the
increase’s correlation with starvation.
Along with providing information, promoting new forms of self-development is also part of the
policy. We can introduce the residence to new agricultural practices so that they may grow their
own crops for their own consumption or profit. Using the latest advances in farming techniques
and new drought resistant seedlings, these communities can learn to sustain themselves once
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again. Sustainable cultivation and harvesting practices can help these people take part in the
economy that had been keeping them oppressed. Being able to cut off aid and see the nation back
on their feet, will be a globally revered feat.
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Work Cited
Hardin, Garret. “Lifeboat Ethics: The Case against Helping the Poor.” Hinman, Lawrence M. ed. Contemporary
Moral issues: Diversity and Consensus. 3rd ed. Prentice Hall: New Jersey 2006 p 335 -342
Rand, Ayn. “The Virtue of Selfishness.” Chaffe, John. ed. The Philosopher’s Way: Thinking Critically About
Profound Ideas. 2nd ed. Prentice Hall p 444-446