HARBINGERS OF ETHICS IN DEVELOPMENT: 9 January 2014

5 Stars of the Development of the Ethics of Development (LEGEND:

Development = dev)
Louis-Joseph Lebret, The Discovery of Common Good (1947)
first person who explicitly argued that development projects and programs should consider the
achievement of dignity (justice?)
human-centred approach to dev
need for humanist view of economy
development is the task of forging a new value and new civilizations in a setting where most existing
institutions contradict human aspirations
development is more than just economic growth
development must be grounded on human values
development must be oriented towards the principle of humanity (capabilities of people to do
what they value)
priorities: equity, distribution of wealth, and the achievement of dignity
Benjamin Higgins, Economics and Ethics in the New Approach to Development
trying to convince others that orthodox approach to dev and economics (dedicated to material
satisfaction of human beings) is wrong
wrong since humans are multidimensional (not only driven/motivated by need for stuff)
general rise in production si not THE development but ONE OF THE POSSIBILITIES of development
development <> human ascent
development best described as human ascent
ascent involves groups sense of humanity (economic, social, cultural, ideological, spiritual,
mystical, transcendental notions of humanity)
ascent not necessarily about human happiness
Gunnar Myrdal, Political Elements in Development of Economic Theory
utilitarianism (basis of social contract, prioritizes needs of majority to the exclusion of the minority; ends
justify the means) is wrong
utilitarianism: as long as vital needs taken care of, you feel protected and therefore happy >
justifies government intervention
BUT! this is wrong since you dont achieve X based on your own actions (i.e. given to
you by your government)
progress is NOT development
when external forces intervene to develop states > state become soft state
soft state = shadow state (become puppet government > state-capturing :( )
opportunisitic ignorance
helping countries/dev practitioners INTENTIONALLY ignore what other nations want/need
(since calculation of benefits for themselves)
first person to note need to discuss (what constitutes?) basic needs
Peter Berger, Pyramids of Sacrifice
first person who directly draws on ethics and international development
calculus of pain and suffering
privileged people
top-down, acultural approach only affects a few, the poor majority therefore suffer
physical pain
no to physical suffering
calculus of meaning
importance of cultural values, a meaningful life
top-down dev programs can remove people from their identities (life becoming hollow,
meaningless, not fulfilling)
need for political ethics and (true) social change
Political ethics (also known as political morality or public ethics) is the practice of making
moral judgements about political action and political agents It covers two areas. The first
is the ethics of process (or the ethics of office), which deals with public officials and the
methods they use.The second area, the ethics of policy (or ethics and public policy)
concerns judgments about policies and laws.
alternative view of development
including ethics in development will lead to better dev
let people/beneficiaries determine what dev is
help people decide how to develop themselves based on their own cultures, visions,
perspectives
beyond mainstream!
no to exploitation!! hunger! terrorism (even national leaders terrorizing own nation
because of MNCs)! mindless destroying of human beings
Brazil & China models of development still not good enough since top-down AND
MNCs are involved
Denis Goulet, The Cruel Choice
source of inspiration for all ethicists
dev = human dev
need for practical ethics of dev
inequality is different from poverty (and vice versa)
inequality involves powerlessness and hopelessness
people in South accepted moral superiority/ intellectual superiority of West >
powerless since dont believe they can change their own situation (dependent on
North)
Other ethicists of development..
John Rawls
while not really a development theorist, his theory of justice is argued by Crocker to be helpful in the
dev of the ethics of dev
idea that philosopher must reflect on normative issues
justice is possible only in liberal societies, non liberal societies cannot establish justice
WHY?! people in liberal societies discuss what it means to be justice being free from
rational selfishness creates a reasonable sense of justice (that is accepted by
all). everything that is fair is just.
uhm i understood Rawls differently
Peter Singer
duty to aid famine victims
it is in our nature, to help since we naturally see helping others as a moral good.
so, since we move in line with the principle of humanity, we can help others develop
themselves
critique vs Singer: ignores structural causes of underdevelopment, global inequality
Garret Hardin
life boat ethics