Ethics in an Age of Savage Inequalities

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Within the United States alone, almost fifteen percent of the population lives in poverty. Ethics in an Age of Savage Inequalities investigates what moral obligations the middle class might have to the poor. While there are no simple ethical prescriptions, the fact remains that many of us afford small luxuries while others in the world struggle to live on less than a dollar a day. James J. Winchester suggests that we can and should give not only charity, but restitution to the poor. Looking at extraction of minerals and the plight of service workers in the United States among many other things, this book demonstrates how the middle class benefits from the exploitation of the poor and harms the environment in ways that threaten people in poverty. Winchester argues that now is the time to take political action to reduce the savage inequalities in this world. Of interest to anyone involved in ethics, social justice, sociology, and even political science, Ethics in an Age of Savage Inequalities explores the idea that money is only a small part of what we owe to the poor.

Reviews

Ethics in a World of Savage Inequalities meets the requirement offered by Kafka that 'a book must be the ax for the frozen sea within us.' It combines passion and comprehensive research in its appeal to get us to redress the profound injustices of our day. It is an important book, and I recommend it highly. -- Scott M. Campbell, Nazareth College
Winchesters book is a sustained, thoughtful reflection motivated by a deep concern for the problems of poverty and inequality. It is grounded in ethical and social theory, and also in a wealth of empirical research. -- David Carr, Emory University
Winchesters sincerity and passion for global justice animates every page of this compelling book. It would a great text with which to challenge undergraduates to think about some of the most important issues of our age. -- Robert Bernasconi, Pennsylvania State University

Author Bio

James J. Winchester is professor of philosophy at Georgia College and State University.