We can't have moral obligations to every single person in this world. We have moral obligations to those who we come up against, who enter into our moral space, so to speak. That means neighbors, people we deal with, and so on.
The quote suggests that our moral responsibilities are limited and are primarily directed towards those who are directly present in our lives. It implies that while it is admirable to care about the well-being of everyone in the world, it is impractical to feel a moral obligation toward each individual we do not encounter personally. This idea highlights the relational aspect of ethics, focusing on immediate social circles rather than distant populations.
In "The Sunday Philosophy Club," Alexander McCall Smith emphasizes the importance of our direct interactions with others. By defining our moral obligations in this way, he encourages us to prioritize our responsibilities to neighbors and those we engage with regularly. This perspective can foster a more manageable sense of duty and encourage meaningful connections within our communities.
