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Chapter 1: Problem 6

Consider an organization that exists to help the poor. The members of the organization are discussing alternative methods of aiding the poor, when a proponent of one particular method asserts, "If even one poor person is helped with this method, then all our time and money would have been worth it." If you were a member of the organization, how would you reply to this assertion?

Short Answer

Expert verified
While the social impact of helping even a single individual cannot be discounted, as an organization, it is essential to ensure that the methods employed for providing aid are efficient and are able to reach and benefit a larger segment of the poor.

Step by step solution

01

Understand the Statement

This step involves a thorough understanding of the proponent's stance. Their assertion suggests that they highly value the positive impact on the life of even just one individual, regardless of the resources consumed in the process.
02

Analyze the Statement from a Humanitarian Perspective

The humanitarian perspective sides with the assertion that any efforts made to improve a life is worth it. Valuing the impact made in a single life echoes human compassion and empathy, central principles of humanitarianism.
03

Analyze the Statement from an Efficiency Perspective

From an efficiency standpoint, the statement might seem impractical and wasteful. If the organization has limited resources, it may be more beneficial to devise a method that helps a greater number of people versus pouring all resources into helping just one individual.
04

Formulate a Balanced Response

Given the analysis from different perspectives, a balanced response could recognize the value in helping an individual but also stress the importance of resource allocation to maximize the number of people that can be helped.

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