How to Be Perfect: The Correct Answer to Every Moral Question

In October 2018, Schur and his son attended the final game of the World Series, with the Boston Red Sox defeating the LA Dodgers. For Christmas that year, Schur decided to purchase a baseball bat autographed by several Red Sox players for his son. After making the expensive purchase, Schur felt bad as he recalled the work of Australian philosopher Peter Singer.

As a utilitarian, Singer argues that the wealthy have a moral responsibility to give as much as they can to charities that save and improve lives. Singer offers a thought experiment: Suppose you see a child drowning in a shallow pond. Most people would agree that you should save the child, regardless of the damage doing so may cause, for instance, to your expensive shoes. Similarly, there are children dying all over the world whose lives could be saved if we gave up some possessions and gave the money to effective charities. Singer goes on to suggest that whatever money we have left over after meeting our basic needs should be given away to life-saving charities, as opposed to cultural or artistic organizations.

Schur expresses his admiration for Singer’s commitment and agrees that those with greater socioeconomic status should be expected to give more.