What is Peter Singer?
Peter Singer is an Australian philosopher and author, most renowned for his old approach to ethical and political issues He is a professor at Princeton University, and a Laureate Professor at the University of Melbourne, and is one of the most influential moral philosophers of the 20th century. His work has been influential in a wide variety of fields, such as bioethics and environmental philosophy. He is best known for his utilitarian approach, which focuses on maximizing the overall good in any given situation, and his comparisons that pose complex ethical questions, such as animal liberation and world poverty.
Singer's philosophy is heavily influened by utilitarian thought, which advocates that the ethical choice is the one that maximizes the greatest utility. In other words, the ethical choice is the one that will do the most good, or cause the least amount of harm. This leads Singer to make controversial statements, such as that animal life should be treated with the same consideration as human life. His work in applied ethics, such as in the areas of abortion, animal rights and humanitarian assistance for developing countries, has been particularly controversial, and has spurred debate in numerous circles.
Five Best Examples of Peter Singer
1. The Life you can Save: This book, released in 2012, is an ethical guide to living, and explores the implications of our moral obligations to help those in need. Singer offers practical suggestions for how readers can make a difference, personally and through organized campaigns.
2. Animal Liberation: In this 1975 book, Singer offers an impassioned argument for animal rights and outlines the ethical implications of humans' treatment of animals. He offers some of the earliest arguments in favor of Animal Rights, and in the process, spurred a revolution in society's thinking about animal welfare.
3. Famine, Affluence, and Morality: In this 1972 essay, Singer outlines his utilitarianism approach to the international humanitarian crises of famine, arguing that people in the wealthy nations of the world have an obligation to help those who are less fortunate.
4. Practical Ethics: This book, published in 1979, outlines Singer's approach to applied ethics, and explores some of the major ethical issues of the day, such as abortion, euthanasia, animal experimentation and capital punishment. The book has since become a classic in the field of applied ethics.
5. The Point of View of the Universe: This 2014 book is the culmination of Singer's work in practical ethics, and offers a comprehensive overview of his ethical philosophy. It explores his views on the environment, animal welfare, world poverty, and other pressing issues. It also offers an essential overview of Singer’s utilitarian philosophy.