Thread: If you were a hardcore utilitarian, what would you spend all your time doing?

I would think travelling to a third-world country and helping out the people there.

It seems like you wouldn't be doing much, but this isn't necessarily the case, because there are plenty of like-minded people out there already. As lovely anecdotal evidence, a friend who my father met in university, is working out in Africa right now. Ostensibly, it is on behalf of the Baha'i Faith, but really he's organizing and directing a humanitarian organization. He's travelled from place to place working for the Faith, but settled in Sudan (I think), where he organizes his employees and volunteers, runs the food programs and communicates directly on behalf of his little district of the third world to the first. His personal impact has been made from the first 5 or so years he spent as one of the field workers, helping people in individual villages, but as an administrator, he effectively organizes and runs an operation on a shoestring budget.

I can't say I understand why people look down on volunteering in a third-world country, or think that it's less important than being a doctor.

Originally Posted by coqauvin

I can't say I understand why people look down on volunteering in a third-world country, or think that it's less important than being a doctor.

I don't know anyone who woulld suggest that. That's baffling.