Portrait of Peter Singer

Peter Singer

Animal rights, utilitarian ethics

Contemporary influential 35 sayings

Sayings by Peter Singer

If it is in our power to prevent something bad from happening, without thereby sacrificing anything of comparable moral importance, we ought, morally, to do it.

1972 — Essay: 'Famine, Affluence, and Morality'
Power & Leadership Unverifiable

If it is in our power to prevent something bad from happening, without thereby sacrificing anything of comparable moral importance, we ought, morally, to do it.

1972 — Essay: 'Famine, Affluence, and Morality'
Power & Leadership Confirmed

The question is not, 'Can they reason?' nor, 'Can they talk?' but, 'Can they suffer?'

1975 — Book: 'Animal Liberation'
Life & Death Unverifiable

The question is not, 'Can they reason?' nor, 'Can they talk?' but, 'Can they suffer?'

1975 — Book: 'Animal Liberation'
Life & Death Confirmed

If a being suffers, there can be no moral justification for refusing to take that suffering into consideration.

1975 — Book: 'Animal Liberation'
Life & Death Unverifiable

If a being suffers, there can be no moral justification for refusing to take that suffering into consideration.

1975 — Book: 'Animal Liberation'
Life & Death Confirmed

We are facing a moral crisis of unprecedented proportions if we continue to ignore the suffering of animals.

2010 — Interview
Nature & World Unverifiable

We are facing a moral crisis of unprecedented proportions if we continue to ignore the suffering of animals.

2010 — Interview
Nature & World Disputed

Eating meat is morally indefensible, given the suffering it causes to animals and the environmental impact.

1975 — Book: 'Animal Liberation'
Nature & World Unverifiable

Eating meat is morally indefensible, given the suffering it causes to animals and the environmental impact.

1975 — Book: 'Animal Liberation'
Nature & World Confirmed

Effective altruism is about doing the most good you can with the resources you have.

2015 — Book: 'The Most Good You Can Do: How Effective Altruism Is Changing Ideas About Living Ethically'
Wisdom Unverifiable

Effective altruism is about doing the most good you can with the resources you have.

2015 — Book: 'The Most Good You Can Do: How Effective Altruism Is Changing Ideas About Living Ethically'
Wisdom Confirmed

If we can save a child's life by donating a small amount of money, and we don't, how are we different from someone who lets a child drown in a shallow pond?

2009 — Lecture on effective altruism
Money & Business Unverifiable

If we can save a child's life by donating a small amount of money, and we don't, how are we different from someone who lets a child drown in a shallow pond?

2009 — Lecture on effective altruism
Money & Business Confirmed

The idea that human life is inherently more valuable than animal life is a form of speciesism, akin to racism or sexism.

1975 — Book: 'Animal Liberation'
Nature & World Unverifiable

The idea that human life is inherently more valuable than animal life is a form of speciesism, akin to racism or sexism.

1975 — Book: 'Animal Liberation'
Nature & World Confirmed

We should extend the circle of our moral concern to all sentient beings.

2012 — Interview
Wisdom Unverifiable

We should extend the circle of our moral concern to all sentient beings.

2012 — Interview
Wisdom Confirmed

Doing good doesn't have to be a sacrifice; it can be deeply fulfilling.

2015 — Book: 'The Most Good You Can Do: How Effective Altruism Is Changing Ideas About Living Ethically'
Wisdom Unverifiable

Doing good doesn't have to be a sacrifice; it can be deeply fulfilling.

2015 — Book: 'The Most Good You Can Do: How Effective Altruism Is Changing Ideas About Living Ethically'
Wisdom Confirmed
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