The Ethics of Philanthropy
We will consider the moral requirements of and for philanthropy and its practices and the role of philanthropy in a democratic society. Topics may include religious and moral imperatives and motives for charitable giving, arguments (such as Peter Singer's) that one is obligated to give away almost everything to save the lives of the poor, the justifications for publicly subsidizing philanthropy (through the tax system), the unintended problematic consequences of organized philanthropy, the role of corporate philanthropy, and the ethics of using psychological and behavioral economics techniques for fundraising.