A few years ago, Australian-born philosopher Peter Singer wrote a book that argued for a simple solution to end poverty.
He called upon Australians and citizens of other affluent countries to think seriously about donating 5-10 per cent of their salaries to global poverty-reducing projects. If everyone did this it would raise seven times the world’s aid budget, he said.
I remember when the book came out. I was living in Melbourne, spending a good two hours of my Monday to Friday driving the clogged up stretch mark that is Punt Road – the city’s notoriously awful link between the Northern and Southern suburbs. I had time on my hands, and Singer was promoting his thoughts on several Drive talk-back slots.
I loved his idea. But I wondered how he’d get it up? What would motivate us to not just open our wallets with such generosity, but to change the fundamental way we think about our income, too?
This year Singer appeared as a keynote speaker at Sydney’s Happiness and Its Causes conference. Thankfully, the discussions surrounding happiness have recently broadened to embrace the concept that giving is central to happiness.
Perhaps here, Singer’s argument makes the most sense – and has the most hope.
“I want to say that for people as fortunate as us, ‘avoiding causing harm’ [the Buddhist approach to life] is not enough for us to live an ethical life. That’s not enough to achieve happiness,” he said.
“If you’re from Australia, you’re in a country with a great amount of personal and political security. There is a certain amount of respect for human rights. Yet people still worry about their own happiness. We need to have goals to work towards.
“If we have enough to feed ourselves and our families after just a few hours of work, you satisfy your basic needs quite easily. So then there’s a sense of ‘What else can I do? How do I fill my life?
“My personal definition of happiness, or a source of happiness, is setting yourself a set of ethical standards and goals to work towards. I believe that lies in helping others.”
For Singer, the greatest way to boost happiness is to focus on reducing the greatest suffering.
Want to help?
What is your view? Is this a solution to lifting happiness?
References available on request