Peter Singer: Animal suffering is human responsibility | Full Interview

“It’s not about being perfect. It’s about reducing suffering where we can, and right now, we’re choosing not to.”

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What does it mean to live ethically in our interconnected world? Author, activist, and philosopher Peter Singer argues that moral progress depends not on tradition or emotion, but on reason—and that each of us has the power to reduce suffering and improve lives through conscious choices that reduce ‘Speciesism.’

Singer’s perspective asks viewers to move beyond thought, asking them to act in alignment with their moral compasses.

00:00:00 Part 1: The argument for animal liberation.
00:00:25 What was the impetus behind writing “Animal Liberation?”
00:01:57 What reactions has “Animal Liberation” elicited?
00:03:07 Why did you decide to update the book?
00:05:06 What reforms have you seen since the 1975 edition?
00:08:40 Where has there been regression in animal treatment?
00:15:50 What is speciesism?
00:17:50 How would one defend a speciesist argument?
00:22:29 What is the main argument against speciesism in “Animal Liberation Now?”
00:24:55 How are factory farm practices justified by the agribusiness industry?
00:28:36 How do factory farm conditions lead to employee churn?
00:31:14 How much of an oppositional force is big agribusiness?
00:34:33 Why do people still consume animal products?
00:36:48 How expensive would meat be if animals were treated humanely?
00:41:03 What are conscientious omnivores?
00:43:13 Who else has accompanied you in this work?
00:44:48 What does progress over the next 48 years look like to you?
00:47:24What concerns do you have around AI development?
00:57:05How would you define consciousness in non-human animals?
00:59:16 Will sentient AI force us to alter our attitudes towards technology?
01:02:27 Who will decide how we treat conscious AI?
01:04:10 Who is Zell Kravinsky?
01:08:04 What is the effective altruism movement?
01:10:36 How does human nature impact good philanthropy?
01:13:08 What are metacharities?
01:15:59 What is “earning-to-give?”
01:21:17 How does effective altruism address inequality?
01:25:00 How do you present effective altruism to young earners?
01:28:05 What are the positive psychological effects of giving?
01:30:14 How has the movement grown over the years?
01:34:19 Why is freedom of thought crucial for the pursuit of knowledge?
01:37:23 What inspired the Journal of Controversial Ideas?
01:43:57 Are some ideas so harmful that they shouldn’t be given a platform?
01:48:42 Has your writing advanced progressive discussion on controversial ideas?
01:52:40 Why should we be more comfortable with uncomfortable ideas?

Read the video transcript ► https://bigthink.com/series/full-inte...

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About Peter Singer:

Peter Singer has been described as the world’s most influential philosopher. Born in Melbourne in 1946, he has been professor of bioethics at Princeton University since 1999. His many books include Animal Liberation - often credited with triggering the modern animal rights movement - Practical Ethics, The Life You Can Save, The Most Good You Can Do, and Ethics in the Real World. In 2023, he published Animal Liberation Now, a fully revised and updated version of the 1975 original.

Singer’s writings have also inspired the movement known as effective altruism, and he is the founder of the charity The Life You Can Save. In 2021 he was awarded the $1 million Berggruen Prize for Philosophy and Culture, which he donated to nonprofit organizations working for the causes he supports. In 2023 he received the Frontiers of Knowledge Prize for the Humanities, from the Spanish BBVA Foundation.