Beginning of class comments to the question: In relation to foreign ‘aid’ and ‘development’, is a person’s involvement an act of charity or obligation?

Stephanie N: charity is a personal, optional thing; not an obligation to give to charity

Eric: don’t know; obligation, but no coherent reasons why

Stephanie P:  charity from a personal level

Sam: question is confusing; charity is a term, an entity; charity vs. obligation aren’t two opposing things

Will: confused by the terms; obligation, for me, is in regards to human rights and social justice issues and everything extending beyond that is charity

Anna: confused, depends on the issue; case-by-case decision whether its charity or obligation

Midori: universalist obligation; developed nations have an obligation to improve/help others who are drastically underdeveloped;

Kyla: universalist obligation; societies are formulated because of the need to associate with other human beings, and thus it is an obligation to help others; charity can be viewed differently in different contexts;

Andra: charity gives me the sense of being something impersonal, while obligation is something in which one is personally invested and it thus their responsibility to fulfill their duty; there’s a humanity aspect

Angela: obligation in terms of foreign aid; charity isn’t an obligation

Iran: depends on our society – if it’s an individualistic society, then you giving would be charity;

Feel to comment on whether you have solidified your perspective or whether you now feel differently in regards to the topic.

Presentation by: Iran and Andra