Non-profit organizations (like Outreach International) are constantly wondering how to motivate people to donate money to good causes. In last week's Newsweek, Professor Peter Singer writes this intriguing (and possibly motivating?) scenario:
Imagine that you are walking near a shallow ornamental pond when you notice that a small child has fallen in, and is apparently in danger of drowning. You look around for the child's caregiver, but there is no one in sight. Without pausing even to pull off the expensive pair of shoes you are wearing, you rush into the water to save the child."
"You don't have to be a hero to do that. We expect it of you. You'd have to be a monster to put the cost of your shoes ahead of saving the child's life."
"Or would you? "
