Summary

In this next part of the essay, Singer sets out to demonstrate that “numbers do make a difference,” meaning that donating the bare minimum cannot be morally justifiable (233). Some might think that if everyone with the means to do so donates £5 to the Bengal relief fund, there would be enough resources to alleviate the famine, making it unnecessary to donate more than that amount. However, Singer explains that this cannot be the correct position to take because it relies on a hypothetical premise; the reality is that it is pretty certain that not everyone will donate at least £5. Thus, donating more than £5 ensures the prevention of a greater amount of suffering. Singer says that this conclusion may seem “absurd” because if everyone donated more than £5, or as much as possible, then they would increase their own suffering, and there could be a surplus of...