Make Sure It Helps

Here's some stuff related to Bill Easterly's critical review of Singer's book that we read for class.

• Easterly is an economist at NYU whose book is called The White Man's Burden: Why the West's Efforts to Aid the Rest Have Done So Much Ill and So Little Good.
• He also ran a blog called Aid Watch with the catchy subtitle, "just asking that aid benefit the poor."
• Some similar websites include GiveWell's blog and Good Intentions Are Not Enough.
• Here's an interesting review of Easterly's book that seriously considers his concerns about giving aid to African nations. I especially recommend reading the last section of the article.
• Here's a great chat between Easterly and Singer:
  

New Jersey's Own

Here's more than you ever wanted on Peter Singer:

• His recent book on giving is called The Life You Can Save.
• Here he points out the biases that keep us from giving.
• Here he calls out professors for not teaching about poverty.
• Here he updates his argument and offers some specific giving guidelines.
• Here he defends his position against some tough questions.
• And here's his recent appearance on The Colbert Report.

New Jersey's Own

An article we're reading toward the end of the semester was written by by well-known philosopher, utilitarian, vegetarian, and New Jersey resident Peter Singer. He's particularly known for arguing in support of better treatment of animals. Here are some interviews with him:

• Peter Singer on Michael Vick & Dog Fighting
  
• Audio Interview with Peter Singer
  
• Animal Research (Peter Singer's Sometimes OK with It!)