Moral imperative

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An example of not following a moral imperative is making a promise that you do not intend to keep in order to get something.[1]

Global Economic Moral imperative[edit]

Toby Ord Explores a moral imperative in relation to economics and global health. A hypothetical example he gives is that a group has $40,000 dollars to spend on blindness. The money could be spent to provide one U.S. person with a seeing eye dog and training or could be used to reverse the effects of 2,000 cases of trachoma in Africa through surgery. The cost-effective answer would be to help more people.

Toby also provides some real-world examples. Some real-world examples provide data on the cost to prevent or treat AIDS. Analyzing the cost-effectiveness of these methods of treatment and prevention is a moral imperative because the most effective use of funds can save more lives.[2]

Gary Locke and Angel Gurria stated cases for economic moral imperatives related to corruption and anti-bribery laws. Water provides 40 percent of the world's food requirement and in developing countries there can be a 30 percent premium on water.[3] Thomas Pogge argues that this corruption is strongly encouraged by the existing international rules as the rulers of theses countries have much to gain from these larger countries and corporations.

See also[edit]


  1. ^ "Kant's Moral Philosophy". Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. 
  2. ^ Ord, Toby. "The moral imperative towards cost-effectiveness" (PDF). Retrieved 6 February 2015. 
  3. ^ Gary Locke; Angel Gurría (10 December 2009). "A Global Economic and Moral Imperative". Retrieved 6 February 2015.