Question 1

In her conclusion, Hassoun affirms that foreign aid should stem from _____:

Accepted Answer

A)   A recognition of the injustices that created inequalities in the first place
B)   A desire to increase pleasure and reduce pain
C)   An organized effort to end corruption and ineffective global institutions
D)   A desire to help others live minimally good lives D

Question 2

Hassoun's essay affirms that a "minimally good life" is one where _____:

Accepted Answer

A)   One is better off than (s) he would be not having existed at all
B)   One can secure what (s) he needs without aid
C)   One lives well enough
D)   One is reasonable, caring, and free C

Question 3

Toward the end of her essay, Nicole Hassoun writes:
Billions lack access to clean water in their homes and access to essential health services. Millions lack access to adequate sanitation, food, and shelter. Foreign aid alone will not completely solve these problems, but it can help many people live minimally good lives. We should not neglect the water for the sea. Saving even one life is a good thing. A great thing.
In your essay, develop a possible challenge to what Hassoun says. Why might someone doubt that arguments like this-that focus on the goodness of saving "even one life"-should guide countries' aid giving activity abroad?

Accepted Answer

Explain this claim of Hassoun's
Provide a reasonable criticism of Hassoun's position

Question 4

In their replies, Jason Brennan and Nicole Hassoun dig into the issue of whether or not aid is effective in building "good institutions" in the countries where aid is received. This is an area where Brennan and Hassoun disagree. In your essay, explain their disagreement, drawing from both of their works. Then, briefly describe the extent to which you take this issue to be a central one in the aid debate. In other words, how much rides on whether aid builds good institutions? Could it usually be justified even if aid doesn't accomplish this?

Accepted Answer

The answer of In their replies, Jason Brennan and Nicole...

Question 5

Throughout his essay, Brennan relies on tools from which discipline to build his case?

Accepted Answer

A)   Economics
B)   Sociology
C)   Psychology
D)   Geography

Question 6

In his essay, Brennan affirms that there are two wrong answers when it comes to answering the question of why some countries are richer than others. What are they?

Accepted Answer

A)   Institutions and imperialism
B)   Natural resources and imperialism
C)   Isolation and under-development
D)   Institutions and open borders

Question 7

Which of the authors affirms the following in their conclusion: "An obligation to help the poor is an obligation to actually help them. Good intentions don't matter"?

Accepted Answer

A)   Nicole Hassoun
B)   Jason Brennan

Question 8

In his essay, Brennan argues that if we could get wealthy adults to donate 15 cents a day, we could end world poverty, but people don't have an obligation to aid.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

In her reply, Hassoun disagrees with which of Brennan's guiding ideas?

Accepted Answer

A)   Access to natural resources inhibits a country's growth
B)   Aid should do good for individuals
C)   Poor countries stay poor because of their institutions
D)   Aid should increase economic growth

Question 10

In his reply, Brennan suggests that there is a basic problem that philosophers ignore. What is it?

Accepted Answer

A)   No forms of aid do good
B)   Providing help for others, while admirable, is never obligatory
C)   Aid doesn't cause development
D)   There's no such thing as a right to a decent life

Question 11

In her reply, Hassoun suggests that she and Brennan agree about many things. Which of the following is one of those things?

Accepted Answer

A)   Aid can do some good
B)   It is possible for foreigners to build good institutions
C)   Developed countries harmed people in developing countries
D)   Causes of poverty are complex

Question 12

Throughout Jason Brennan's essay, he raises a number of concerns with the way that philosophers tend to think about the foreign aid question. In your essay, explain one or more of these concerns. To what extent do Nicole Hassoun's arguments have one or more of the problems that Brennan describes?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Throughout Jason Brennan's essay, he raises a...

Question 13

In her essay, Hassoun outlines two moral arguments for aid. Identify one of those arguments:

Accepted Answer

A)   Redistributive justice demands aid
B)   Reasonable, caring, and free persons have strong reason to aid
C)   We have an obligation to help everyone live a minimally good life
D)   Aid is always effective and productive, so we have a strong reason to aid

Exam 3: Nicole Hassoun and Jason Brennan, “Foreign Aid”