Private Virtues, Public Vices - by Emma Saunders-Hastings (Paperback)

About the Book

"Philanthropy plays a huge role in supporting many public goods in contemporary American and European societies. Thus, the decision about what activities receive support and are therefore financially viable depends the personal preferences of the wealthy. In Private Virtues, Public Vices: Philanthropy and Democratic Equality, political theorist Emma Saunders-Hastings argues that philanthropy is a deeply political activity that should be judged not only by the morality of the causes being supported, but also by the fact that the choices of the very rich essentially dictate decisions for the rest of us, foreclosing some possibilities and directing us down paths we might not otherwise choose. What Saunders-Hastings asks is that we look at the impact on democracy of the kind of power wielded by philanthropy and how it enables the wealthy to exercise greater power in our society and deepen its political inequalities"--

Book Synopsis

A thought-provoking challenge to our ideas about philanthropy, marking it as a deeply political activity that allows the wealthy to dictate more than we think.

Philanthropy plays a huge role in supporting the provision of many public goods in contemporary societies. As a result, decisions that affect public outcomes and people's diverse interests are often dependent on the preferences and judgments of the rich. Political theorist Emma Saunders-Hastings argues that philanthropy is a deeply political activity. She asks readers to look at how the power wielded by philanthropy impacts democracy and deepens political inequality by enabling the wealthy to exercise outsize influence in public life and by putting in place paternalistic relationships between donors and their intended beneficiaries. If philanthropy is to be made compatible with a democratic society of equals, it must be judged not simply on the benefits it brings but on its wider political consequences. Timely and thought-provoking, Private Virtues, Public Vices will challenge readers' thoughts on what philanthropy is and how it truly affects us.

Review Quotes

"Saunders-Hastings' book is of great relevance, as it uncovers the fundamental interests behind most philanthropic giving, other than addressing widening inequality, escalating poverty, and other global concerns. . . . a must-read for all who have a keen interest in philanthropic work on a national and international level."-- "Voluntas"

"Private Virtues, Public Vices is essential reading for navigating our present-day collision course between widespread economic inequality and democratic governance."-- "The Review of Politics"

"Ms. Saunders-Hastings, a political scientist at Ohio State University, believes that philanthropy is in tension with democracy--may even be harmful to it. Her critique is worth taking seriously. . ."-- "The Wall Street Journal"

"Philanthropy is a hot topic these days. This crisply and clearly written book reframes the ethical discussion focused on rich people/countries' debt to those less well-off and recasts practical concerns about effective giving to focus on the politics and power of giving. Private Virtues, Public Vices poses challenging questions in this age of global inequality. Saunders-Hastings couples precise arguments with thoughtfully chosen real-world examples to convey a strong sense of urgency."--Lisa Jane Disch, University of Michigan

"The best philosophical illumination of the tension-ridden relationship between philanthropy and democracy. Better still, in exploring the institutional design of contemporary philanthropy, Saunders-Hastings makes original contributions to democratic theory itself, especially as concerns the relationship between ideal and non-ideal theory and the basis of objections to paternalism."--Rob Reich, Stanford University

"In Private Virtues, Public Vices: Philanthropy and Democratic Equality, Emma Saunders-Hastings reminds us that contributing private wealth for the public good--by definition--has always been a political act. . . . the book is timely--and timeless, for it goes beyond calling for reforms to suggest a framework for thinking not only about philanthropy but also about democracy, equality, and justice."-- "Philanthropy News Digest"

About the Author

Emma Saunders-Hastings is assistant professor in political science at the Ohio State University. Her writing on philanthropy has appeared in the Journal of Politics, the Boston Review, and Effective Altruism: Philosophical Issues.