Global Development: International Cooperation for Improved Health Outcomes - Essay Sample

Introduction

Global development of economies has become a major concern globally, which has led to international cooperation. The developing countries are becoming more and more integrated into the global economy, thereby becoming less dependent on aid. In this regard, it can be suggested that their interests have changed. International cooperation is an essential aspect of improving international issues such as health outcomes, which are adverse in developing countries. However, to achieve such success, it has been suggested that developed countries can play a vital role in helping to solve the misery and challenges faced by developing nations. Despite such arguments, some philosophical presentations oppose any measures as each state should be independent. However, other philosophical arguments have presented the need for developed countries to help developing nations from a moral perspective. In this philosophical presentation, the paper will examine the philosophical arguments of Immanuel Kant, John Stuart Smith, and Peter Singer, regarding the responsibilities of developed countries in helping to solve problems of the developing nations. Despite the contrasting arguments, it is evident that developed countries have a moral obligation to help developing nations that are in misery, as suggested by the philosophers.

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Developed countries have the capacity to help developing nations for global stability and sustainability, just like rich people have the ability to help others. According to the arguments of Peter Singer, there is a moral necessity for people to donate to charity. Through his analysis of the case of famine that befell India, Singer vouches both for altruism as well as utilitarianism, alluding that the starvation would have been averted since people had the power to do so (Singer 26). This power, therefore, means that the people are morally obligated to give. Thus, assistance is demonstrated by other countries such as Australia and Britain that donated monetary aid and other forms of aid that can help poor nations. According to Singer, developed countries are precious and should be compelled to help the developing nations in their misery of drought and famine to ensure equitable distribution of resources. According to his arguments, the response of people when there are natural calamities and other situations and disasters is morally wrong. He argues that people to lack basic human needs that lead to suffering is bad. Therefore, it is within the ability of the developed nations, and hence a moral duty for them to support the developing countries for the sake of humanity.

Similarly, Immanuel Kant suggests that all people have a moral duty to assist the people in distress, indicating the need for the developed nations to help the developing ones, who are indifferent misery and predicaments. According to Kant, the specific obligations that are good are a duty to the provider (Kant 130). Besides, actions that are undertaken for the sake of mission only are genuinely good. While some people may act out of duty, others act due to compulsion. Kant gave an example of business people, where a grocer has a duty to offer a fair price to all the customers, and are required to do so by abiding by the sense of responsibility, as well as the competition in the market. Therefore, countries that are developed have a lot of resources that they can share with the developing ones, as a sense of duty to help others in need, as well as be compelled to distribute national resources. Additionally, identifying the need to improve the developing nations can demonstrate a philanthropic inclination to the act of duty. In such actions, the overall progress is good not only for the developing but also for the developed nations, as they achieve individual satisfaction for doing good.

In the same way, John Stuart Mill demonstrated the importance of utilitarianism, as a moral guideline that guides the actions of people towards others, which illustrates the need for developed countries to help developing nations. According to the philosopher, actions are considered to be right in proportion to the happiness they tend to bring. Besides, actions are wrong if they manage to produce the 'reverse of happiness' in people. John Mill defined happiness as pleasure, which is the absence of pain (Mill 16). Although it can differ in quantity and quality, the joys that are mainly rooted in the higher faculties of an individual have more weight than the baser pleasures. Regardless of the quality and quantity, the developed nations have the capacity and, hence the moral authority to minimize and even eliminate pain and suffering for the developing nations. Developing nations suffer from poverty, diseases, and other natural calamities, which can be solved by developing countries (Mill 36). Therefore, while they may not be compelled to act in a particular way, they are obligated to cause happiness in others. In this regard, developed nations have a duty to act in ways that will promote happiness on humanity, by lessening the overwhelming suffering and misery that has been witnessed in the developing countries of the world.

The three philosophers demonstrate that developed countries have a moral obligation to assist the developing nations, who are endowed in absolute misery and suffering. Helping can be in the form of partnerships and cooperation that intend to lead, stimulate, and facilitate the actions that alleviate the problems of humanity, such as poverty and poor health. For example, developed countries have developed health care systems and programs to improve health across the globe. Through their leadership programs, the cooperation between states can help reduce the burden of diseases that are prevalent in developing countries. Helping them is also helping themselves, as some diseases are communicable. This is in line with the philosophical arguments, which obligate the ones which are costly to help the poor. For example, Singer argued that suffering and death that results from the lack of basic needs like shelter, food, and medical care, is morally wrong. Therefore, those in positions to help and fail to do so commit moral vices. As such, the developed states should have programs in place to help alleviate poverty and provide better health care for poor people who not have access to proper medical coverage, food, shelter, and clean water.

Developed countries have a duty, and not charity, to help the poor in society. Viewing some actions as charity demonstrate one cannot be reprimanded to assist. However, Singer provides that developed countries should be morally obligated to offer humanitarian assistance across the globe as a responsibility and duty. In the same way, actions should not be judged according to their outcome, but according to the purpose that they meant to serve as illustrated by Immanuel Kant. Therefore, Kant suggests that people should take action of helping the poor as a moral principle and motivation of the sense of duty (Wood 45). In this regard, the developing countries are like needy people, where the developed states require rationality for moral law compliance, like facilitating social and economic development in developing nations. Doing so will also be facilitating the protection of human rights by facilitating and promoting happiness as demonstrated by Mill's argument and theory on moral obligation. Innovations in developed countries can help solve some problems in the developing states, such as improving infrastructure. Doing so will create employment, thereby improving the overall quality of life and reduce possible accidents. The outcome of such good acts is positive for humanity, which indicates the need for developed states to create programs that serve to improve humanity.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the three philosophers Immanuel Kant, John Stuart Smith, and Peter Singer illustrate that developed nations have a responsibility to help the developing countries alleviate their misery, just like the rich people have a moral duty to help the poor. Happiness is the result of morality, which means that the desire for happiness is in obligations for everyone. To alleviate the suffering of the developing nations is a form of sentimental justice, which is based on utility, that exists as a necessity for human happiness. Therefore, the theories emphasize on morality and ethics, which demonstrate duty and not just a responsibility. The developed countries should show a strong commitment to the processes of learning and rethinking the traditional practices that can improve the overall quality of life for all humanity. Besides, the philosophers show that developed countries should not be egocentric but act in the best interest of everyone, especially the ones in dire need.

Works Cited

Kant, Immanuel. Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals. Cambridge [U.K.: Cambridge University Press, 1997.

Mill, John. Utilitarianism. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company, 2001.

Singer, Peter. Famine, Affluence, and Morality. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2016.

Wood, Allen W. Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2008.