Peter singers approach to animal liberation does not assume that animals have inherent rights, but rather that the interests of animals should be given their due consideration. An argument for animal rights and an analysis of peter. His 1975 book animal liberation is a groundbreaking work in the field of animal rights and presents a bold. Dombrowski is author of platos philosophy of history. While eating meat, singer asked his classmate why he didnt eat meat. Peter singer is a wellknown advocate of animal rights and vegetarianism.
He is a middle school teacher and a creative writer. Sep 05, 1999 the singer solution to world povertyessay by peter singer, australian philosopher, offers his unconventional thoughts about ordinary americans obligations to worlds poor and suggests that even. The pretext of necessary suffering frances moore lappe 1944. Peter albert david singer ac born 6 july 1946 is an australian moral philosopher. As a university student in the early 1970s, peter singer sat across from a friend who ordered a vegetarian meal.
He specialises in applied ethics and approaches ethical issues from a secular, utilitarian perspective. A foreword, by peter singer, introduces and provides context for the dialogues, and a final annotated bibliography offers a list of sources related to the discussion. A vegetarian philosophy, by peter singer the animal rights library. Im very pleased to say that there have been a lot of changes, especially in europe, but also some in the us and other countries. Singer was able to find one book in which he could read up on the issue animal machines by ruth. This is the first comprehensive collection of primary source material on vegetarianism as a moral choice and. Although i primarily changed my dietary habits for environmental reasons, i wanted to read this book to understand the animal rights position on veganism. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read ethical vegetarianism. Speciesism is one of the major concepts put forth in the book. An ecological argument for vegetarianism stephen r.
They seem so tender, and so full of pity, that one would take them for the harmless friends of the whole creation. Issues regarding eating meat were highlighted in 1997 by the longest trial in british legal history. From pythagoras to peter singer 1999, paperback at the best online prices at ebay. His 1975 book animal liberation is a groundbreaking work in the field of animal. Mar 18, 2019 animal liberation by peter singer, page 6. The second part of this paper is going to contain critical discussion of the argument. The most prominently known connection between the two concepts is probably that of peter singers utilitarian argument in favour of vegetarianism, put forward in his 1975 book animal liberation. These were some of the tidbits that i found particularly interesting. In 2005, singer was listed as one of the worlds 100 most influential people by time magazine. The most good you can do will challenge you to consider how your donations, career choices, and everyday life decisions can maximize good in the world. For those of you who may not be familiar with peter singer, he is a professor of bioethics at princeton university. Peter david albert singer was born in melbourne on 6 july 1946, the same day as george w bush, on whom singer wrote a book. The moral basis of vegetarianism peter singer 1946. Apr 29, 2009 as i pointed out in at least two other essays 1,2 on this site, and in my 2008 book, animals as persons.
Here, truly, is a volume devoted to what we eat that belongs alongside those more numerous books describing how to cook it. Published in 1975 and rereleased most recently in 2009, with an additional preface by the author, the book is widely recognized as a. Singer ultimately makes the argument to go vegetarian and in the updated version of the book, leans towards veganism. Peter singer a case for animal rights james taylor. Peter singer project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. Luke holm earned bachelor degrees in english and philosophy from niu. Long after i finished reading the book, peter singers words kept echoing through my mind. Peter singer biography peter singer debates his views on a bbcrsa panel in london, 5 september 2006 peter singer s monthly project syndicate commentary series the ethics of life. It offers abstracts of the most important books and articles related to the ethics of vegetarianism and veganism. I had been working in animal protection for 10 years in washington, d.
Peter singer is an australian philosopher well known for his work in utilitarian ethics. International vegetarian union professor peter singer. An argument for animal rights and an analysis of peter singer. The singer solution to world poverty the new york times. In later chapters, singer talks about the need to take action to abate global warming and the greenhouse effect a problem that is only now gaining the support of the general public.
Vegetarianism and veganism utilitarianism wiki fandom. In that book singer made a break with the dominant but limited kantian argument that mistreating animals is a bad inhumane thing for humans. Animal liberation, written by the moral philosopher peter singer of princeton university, was first published in 1975, and it has been a classic of the animal rights field ever since. Jul 14, 2014 the contemporary animal rights movement owes a great intellectual debt to peter singers pathbreaking book animal liberation 1975, also known as the bible of the animal liberation movement. In this interview with katrien devolder philosophy, oxford, peter singer princeton, melbourne tackles the best objections to vegetarianism category education. Mcdonalds corporation and mcdonalds restaurants limited v. This book was published in the mid1990s, and it shows substantial foresight. Moral vegetarianism stanford encyclopedia of philosophy. Peter singer s first argument for vegetarianism 2378. However, concern for nonhuman animals amongst utilitarians goes back to jeremy.
This paper is going to address peter singers first argument for vegetarianism, which was described in much greater detail in his book animal liberation. Dialogues on ethical vegetarianism 1st edition michael. Peter singer is now a professor at princeton university, usa. The first part of this paper is going to explain the argument under consideration. Published in 1975 and rereleased most recently in 2009, with an additional preface by the author, the book is widely recognized as a foundational text within the animal liberation movement. Peter singer author assistant professor of philosophy at creighton university, daniel a. Does peter singers utilitarian argument for vegetarianism. Sep 20, 2017 for those of you who may not be familiar with peter singer, he is a professor of bioethics at princeton university. A collection of historical essays on ethical vegetarianism apparently a companion book, religious vegetarianism. Singer is best known for his views on our moral obligations to animals. Richard dawkins is an english ethologist, evolutionary biologist and author. For vegetarians seeking the historical roots of vegetarianism.
Electronic version of a vegetarian philosophy, by peter singer. Peter singer and christian ethics are far closer than almost anyone has imagined, and this book is valuable to those who are interested in fresh thinking about the relationship between religious. What is the best peter singer book for a layperson to begin. His ethical reasons for vegetarianism prompted singer to plumb some of the deepest moral issues of the time. Decamp professor of bioethics at princeton university, and a laureate professor at the centre for applied philosophy and public ethics at the university of melbourne. In animal liberation, author peter singer exposes the chilling realities of todays factory farms and producttesting proceduresdestroying the spurious justifications behind them, and offering alternatives to what has become a profound environmental and social as well as moral issue. Peter albert david singer, ac born 6 july 1946 is an australian moral philosopher. A new ethics for our treatment of animals is a book by renowned australian philosopher peter singer. Singer argues that to discriminate against beings solely on account of their species is a form of prejudice, immoral and indefensible in the same way that discrimination on the basis of race is immoral and indefensible. Peter singer on effective altruism, vegetarianism, philosophy and favorite books.
Singer himself rejected the use of the theoretical framework of rights when it comes to human and nonhuman animals. The contemporary animal rights movement owes a great intellectual debt to peter singers pathbreaking book animal. In doing so, he is not making the claim that these animals are equal in their capacities, such as reasoning, appearance, ability, or opportunities. I found immanuel kants we have only indirect duties to animals to be the most novel argument i have seen for practicing compassion towards animals. He was formerly professor of philosophy and director of the centre for human bioethics at monash university, melbourne, australia. He specializes in applied ethics and approaches ethical issues from a secular, utilitarian perspective. It is widely considered within the animal liberation movement to be the founding philosophical statement of its ideas. Peter singer, utilitarianism and vegetarianism philpapers. Peter singer, in full peter albert david singer, born july 6, 1946, melbourne, australia, australian ethical and political philosopher best known for his work in bioethics and his role as one of the intellectual founders of the modern animal rights movement. In a recent interview, peter singer makes a number of statements that, in my view, indicate just how sharp the difference is between the new welfarist or protectionist approach and the abolitionist approach first, he states.
Singers last premise is that for most of us, the minor suffering involved in our becoming vegetarian is outweighed by the suffering of the animals involved. In chapter one of animal liberation, peter singer starts off by asserting that all animals are equal. The author peter singer is a philosopher so this book is somewhat unique in presenting the issues from a philosophical point of view. Here, truly, is a volume devoted to what we eat that belongs. The incoherence of peter singers utilitarian argument for. Utilitarianism is closely linked to vegetarianism and veganism, and many utilitarians are vegetarians or vegans. Peter was born as peter albert david singer to a jewish family on july 6, 1946, in melbourne australia. Peter singer is a professor of bioethics at princeton university and professor at the centre for applied philosophy and public ethics at the university of melbourne and is considered by many to be one of the worlds greatest philosophers. In that book singer made a break with the dominant but limited kantian argument that mistreating animals is a bad inhumane thing for humans to do.
Books for vegans, vegetarians, and those interested in animal rights. The no woman is an island objection to this is that unless you live on your own, adopting a vegetarian diet imposes it on those around you. Peter singer tackles the best objections against vegetarianism. Peter singer s first argument for vegetarianism 2378 words. Australian philosopher, peter singer, wrote animal liberation. Peter singer on effective altruism, vegetarianism, philosophy. Essays on the abolition of animal exploitation, the supposed welfare improvements in europe about which peter is so excited are worse than useless in that they provide little if any increased protection for animal interests and they make. His parents were viennese jewish immigrants, who had been subjected to the turbulent upheavals and horrors of the war, they themselves had barely escaped the concentration camps and managed to seek refuge in australia. Although there are similarities between humans and other animals, there are also many differences in abilities. Sep 01, 1977 i listen to this book because it was a classic and probably contributed in ordinately to the attention that the animal liberation movement has received since the book was first published in 1975. He is the author of animal liberation, which can be considered the bible of the animal rights movement. In becoming a vegetarian, we are taking personal responsibility for the effects of our choices and wielding our choices as a way to enact larger political change. Jun 20, 2019 peter singer on effective altruism, vegetarianism, philosophy and favorite books.
He specialises in applied ethics and approaches ethical issues from a secular. Singer concludes that the most practical solution is to adopt a vegetarian or vegan diet. Peter singer on effective altruism, vegetarianism, philosophy and. What is the best peter singer book for a layperson to. The contemporary animal rights movement owes a great intellectual debt to peter singers pathbreaking book animal liberation 1975, also known as the bible of the animal liberation movement. Finally, one chapter covers tips and views on vegetarianism. Peter singer has had an enormous influence on how many people see. For vegetarians seeking the historical roots of vegetarianism, for animal rights activists and the environmentally concerned, and for those questioning their consumption of meat, here s a book that provides a deep understanding of vegetarianism as more than just a dietary decision. Peter singer, happy meat, and fanatical vegans animal. Ethical vegetarianism offers just the right mix of food for thought. Keshen later introduced singer to his vegetarian friends. Peter singer utilitarianism and vegetarianism the better sort here pretend to the utmost compassion for animals of every kind. A new ethics for our treatment of animals is a 1975 book by australian philosopher peter singer.
I listen to this book because it was a classic and probably contributed in ordinately to the attention that the animal liberation movement has received since the book was first published in 1975. Three decades later, peter singer holds professorships at both princeton university and the university of melbourne, and has published dozens of books addressing a wide range of ethical issues. His arguments about animal welfare and vegetarianism have moved millions to change their lives. Peter singer and richard dawkins discuss vegetarianism. Oct 24, 2016 the contemporary animal rights movement owes a great intellectual debt to peter singer s pathbreaking book animal. The movement for a more peaceful world has for too long hungered for a book like this. I found immanuel kants we have only indirect duties to animals to be the most novel argument. It is the classic in the animal rights literature and is on every animal rights and bioethics course reading list. I first became familiar with him in my ap biology class during high school which seems like ages agohow time flies. For vegetarians seeking the historical roots of vegetarianism, for animal rights activists and the environmentally concerned, and for those questioning their consumption of meat, heres a book that provides a deep understanding of vegetarianism as more than just a dietary decision. Jun 12, 2017 in this interview with katrien devolder philosophy, oxford, peter singer princeton, melbourne tackles the best objections to vegetarianism category education. Feb 14, 2009 peter david albert singer was born in melbourne on 6 july 1946, the same day as george w bush, on whom singer wrote a book. International vegetarian union professor peter singer 1946.