The Paradox Of Wealth And Poverty : Mapping The Ethical Dilemmas Of Global Development

We live in a time of human paradoxes. Scientific knowledge has reached a level of sophistication that permits understanding of the most arcane phenomena and yet religious fundamentalism dominates in many parts of the world. We witness the emergence of a civil, liberal constitutionalism in many regions of the world and yet ethnic violence threatens the lives and dignity of millions. And we live in a time of rapid economic and technological advance and yet several billions of people live in persistent debilitating poverty. In this book, Daniel Little dissects these paradoxes offering the clearest perspective on how best to approach international development.Using both empirical and philosophical approaches, Little provides a schematic acquaintance with the most important facts about global development at the turn of the twentieth century. In doing so, he explores what appear to be the most relevant moral principles and insights that ought to be invoked as we consider these facts and then draws conclusions about what sorts of values and goals ought to guide economic development in the twenty-first century. Development Ethics focuses on the moral problems raised by the existence of extreme poverty and severe inequalities within the developing world. Having a clear understanding of the economic and policy factors involved is essential to developing any alternative approaches to such problems. This book introduces the normative considerations that arise in the context of development policy, always keeping in the forefront the effect of human and governmental choice on the course, character, and pace of development. It explores the nature of human well-being, the conflict between preserving the environment and alleviating human suffering, and the impact of innovative technologies on traditional culture. Daniel Little offers a clear perspective on how best to approach international development. He provides an open minded and empirical analysis of the most important facts about global development at the turn of the 20th century ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS AIMED AT improving the well-being of the people of the earth. Daniel Little. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 257-271) And Index.