The Evil of Benevelonce
'Despite the widely held view that philanthropy is desirable as a way to mitigate the influence of poverty, there is another, often disregarded, side to social beneficence. Some would argue – I am among them – that the welfare state, with all of its well-meaning rhetoric, actually creates more poverty and dependence than it was designed to abolish.
For the recipient of charity there is the intoxicating impression that this transfer payment is necessary and desirable. Hence the behavior that results in poverty is often reinforced, rather than reproved. For the charitable giver there is very often smug righteousness, a belief that one is saving the world through personal acts of benevolence. This is analogous to the good intentions that lead to debilitating effects...
David Stove, an Australian philosopher, agreed: “Benevolence is the heroin of the Enlightened.”
Alas, this is most poignant observation. The benevolent consider themselves superior because they are doing so much by arguing for those who have so little. The fact that this benevolence often has a baneful effect is disregarded. Big government is politically correct because it is ever in search of assisting or attempting to assist one group or another...
Of course the real evil is believing benevolence is a policy government should pursue.'
- Herbert London, 'The Evil of Benevolence.'
For the recipient of charity there is the intoxicating impression that this transfer payment is necessary and desirable. Hence the behavior that results in poverty is often reinforced, rather than reproved. For the charitable giver there is very often smug righteousness, a belief that one is saving the world through personal acts of benevolence. This is analogous to the good intentions that lead to debilitating effects...
David Stove, an Australian philosopher, agreed: “Benevolence is the heroin of the Enlightened.”
Alas, this is most poignant observation. The benevolent consider themselves superior because they are doing so much by arguing for those who have so little. The fact that this benevolence often has a baneful effect is disregarded. Big government is politically correct because it is ever in search of assisting or attempting to assist one group or another...
Of course the real evil is believing benevolence is a policy government should pursue.'
- Herbert London, 'The Evil of Benevolence.'
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