The Problem and the Meaning of Material Poverty in the Age of Globalization. The Ethical and Pedagogical Aspect

The author discusses the social and anthropological problem of material poverty from the ethical and pedagogical perspective. The article consists of three sections which respectively concentrate on the following topics: (a) poverty and globalization, (b) ways of helping the needy, and (c) poverty as a chance for personal development. The author concludes that poverty improperly approached by society can lead to a depersonalization of both the poor and those who live with them: the former are attached with tags or marginalized, and the latter miss the chance for personal development. In order to avoid depersonalization, then, poverty should be understood not only as a social problem, but also as a valuable lesson of humanity.