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Ideas for 'The Idea of Equality', 'The Philosophical Culture' and 'The Right and the Good'

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23. Ethics / E. Utilitarianism / 1. Utilitarianism
We should use money to pay debts before giving to charity [Ross]
     Full Idea: Ceteris paribus, we should pay our debts rather than give our money in charity, when we cannot do both.
     From: W. David Ross (The Right and the Good [1930], §II)
     A reaction: This seems a neat objection to utilitarianism, though we could reply that the failure to repay a debt will lead to far more trouble, for you and for your creditor, than your failure to be charitable.