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Peter Singer
Utilitarian of the expanding circle — animal liberation and effective altruism.
Overview
One of the world's most influential living moral philosophers, Singer applies a rigorous utilitarian ethics to urgent practical questions. In Animal Liberation he argued that ignoring animal suffering is 'speciesism', a prejudice akin to racism. He contends that affluent people have a strong obligation to relieve extreme poverty, and helped inspire the 'effective altruism' movement. Provocative and consequential, he insists we take seriously the interests of all who can suffer.
What they supported — and why
Equal consideration of interests
SupportedThe interests of all beings capable of suffering deserve equal consideration; to discount an interest because of species is 'speciesism'.
WhyIf the capacity to suffer is what grounds moral status, then ignoring an animal's suffering simply because it is not human is an arbitrary prejudice, like racism or sexism.
The obligation to prevent suffering
SupportedIf we can prevent something very bad without sacrificing anything of comparable moral importance, we ought to do it — so the affluent must give substantially to relieve extreme poverty.
WhyDistance and numbers do not lessen a life's worth, so the same principle that makes us save a drowning child obliges us to help distant strangers in dire need.
Effective altruism
SupportedWe should use reason and evidence to do the most good possible with our resources.
WhyGood intentions are not enough; if the aim is to reduce suffering, we are obliged to direct help where it does the most good per unit of resource.
Causes championed
- Reducing suffering, human and animal
- Animal liberation
- Effective altruism and global poverty relief
Issues wrestled with
- Whose interests count morally?
- What do the affluent owe the world's poor?
- How should we do good?
Hurdles faced
- Fierce controversy over his views on animals, disability, and end-of-life ethics
- Protests that have at times shut down his lectures
Works & books
2 catalogued. Status shows how much survives to today.
Animal Liberation
SurvivesThe founding text of the modern animal-rights movement.
Practical Ethics; The Life You Can Save
SurvivesHis applied ethics and his case for giving to relieve global poverty.
Read the texts free
Their works online — Open Library catalogues 0 works & editions.
The influence network
See Peter Singer in the map →Influenced by
Influenced
In their words
“If it is in our power to prevent something bad from happening, without sacrificing anything of comparable moral importance, we ought to do it.”
— Famine, Affluence, and Morality
Legacy
He made ethics practical and consequential, reshaping how millions think about animals, charity, and moral obligation.
Follow their questions
This thinker is a stop on these paths through philosophy.
Further reading
Cross-checked against these authoritative references.