World Hunger and Morality

Ample food production and large surpluses result in farmers in developed countries having to cope with the consequences of over-production, yet one in eight of the world's population suffers from malnutrition. the situation is not improving; a Fourth World is emerging in which 1.5bn people in 35 countries remain in poverty. Interest in their plight is, if anything, diminishing. Charity organizations make a contribution but government assistance is lagging. It is argued that the problems cannot be solved until paper pledges to create a world free from hunger are recognized as meaningless unless duties are specified. After considering different philosophical positions the argument is advanced that moral duties, like pure public goods, must be non-excludable.