Question

Do you believe that society is obligated to assist people who suffer from economic misfortune (such as those who are unemployed or underemployed, the homeless, or the disabled). Discuss your view, supporting your arguments with your choice of ethical theory.

Answer 1

For people who are at a situation in which they deserve better jobs or better pay or where they are disabled or are not getting exactly what they deserve, the society does have some responsibility towards these people. Having an obligation does not mean that they have to be brought inside their houses or fed food full time or given complete shelter, what obligation means is that whenever possible, people should help homeless people by at least providing access clothes that they may be having, or to the minimum, have a behaviour towards them which is more humane. It is important that the minimum amount of obligation has to be kept towards them, since in most of the cases people deserve more than what they are getting. They are getting jobs, of which they are capable much more of, even after being disabled, they do deserve a living that goes in sync with their qualifications or their abilities. According to the utilitarian ethics, all our actions should be such that they should either give happiness to self or self and people who are surrounded around us or the immediate people. If we help or extend our gratitude to people who deserve much more than what they are getting, it will give them happiness, a smile on their face, which in turn would make ourselves happy, as spreading happiness is the best way to stay happy. Hence, it is an obligation to assist people who suffer from economic misfortune though the assistance can be in any way possible, and not necessarily by capital help.