My Understanding of The Reasons of Poverty in The World

Introduction to Philosophy

Philosophy is the study of many problems such as knowledge, existence, and values in one's life. Philosophy doesn't necessarily ever have a right answer but offers another way to look at something such as what is the value of life. I have always loved philosophy because of this fact, and it has helped me understand how so many people can have different perspectives on something as small as a Twitter post, to something as significant as Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech (King, 1963).

My Understanding of The Reasons for Poverty in The World

Through many perspectives, we can ask ourselves where we stand, and does our stance make the most sense to me. According to UNICEF (2021), 12 children in extreme poverty die every minute of every day, from starving to death to not having access to clean water to suffering from intestinal worms, which is something we don't even let our pets endure. However, this is a problem that is incredibly easy to fix; for just $3, a child can get a mosquito net that would protect her from malaria. Medicine to treat intestinal worms costs less than a dollar, and you could probably feed one with the change you have in your pocket. So, the question arises: why are all of these children dying? Why exactly would I give up my hard-earned money to someone I will most likely never meet? What obligates me to help them? And that's exactly it—you don't have to help them. If you do help, you can give yourself a pat on the back, but if you don't help, nothing changes. We haven't made them poor, and some would argue that they never agreed to help them, which is a valid point.

But consider this: if you were walking in, let's say, your new $200 shoes and you see a girl in a pond drowning. This leaves you with two decisions: you could either let her drown and keep your new shoes from getting ruined, or you could ruin your shoes but save the girl. You would most likely save the girl because your shoes are replaceable, but the person's life isn't. What is the difference between saving that girl's life and someone's in Africa? It's simply the fact that one you can see, and one you can't. Should you help the people in poverty, or should you focus on your own life? What makes a good life? What if you think you had a good life, but your friends and family say you didn't, or the other way around—your friends and family think you have a good life, but you think you have a bad life? Who is right? Did you do what you wanted to do? Did your life feel meaningful to you? Did you do what you felt was right? These are all questions we ask ourselves during our life. I believe if you felt like your life was meaningful, you lived a good life.

Conclusion

Philosophy encourages us to question our actions and beliefs. It challenges us to consider the implications of our choices and the lives of those around us. By engaging with philosophical ideas, we can better understand the complexities of issues like poverty and the value of life. As we reflect on these questions, we may find ourselves more empathetic and willing to contribute to the well-being of others, recognizing the interconnectedness of all human lives.

References

King, M. L. Jr. (1963). I Have a Dream [Speech].

UNICEF. (2021). State of the World's Children. Retrieved from https://www.unicef.org/reports/state-of-the-worlds-children-2021