What do we owe to each other?

If it's hard and time-consuming and people often don't even appreciate help, so why do it? Why reach out?

Hi friends,

A few months ago, somebody asked why, given the negative reactions some people have, we should help anyway. I thought it would make a really good post, especially because it would let me dig into my deep love of philosophy in a way I don’t normally get to do, and do the type of deep research posts I haven’t been able to find time for recently. If you want more of this type of thing, I recommend reading:

Why help other people? Let’s start with the theoretical and philosophical. We help other people because we have a duty, too for one. Philosophy has multiple ways to view this question, but I think The Good Place frames the three main ones well: virtue ethics, utilitarianism, and deontology.

Let’s start with virtue ethics.

Virtue ethics is a broad term for theories that emphasize the role of character and virtue in moral philosophy rather than either doing one’s duty or acting in order to bring about good consequences. A virtue ethicist is likely to give you this kind of mor…