The Genuinely Interested Podcast Ep 90 - Peter Singer - 5 Decades Of Animal Liberation
Peter Singer is an Australian philosopher and a professor of bioethics. He works mostly in practical ethics and is best known for his now-famous book, Animal Liberation. Over the last 5 decades, Peter has written 17 books and has been the editor or co-author of two dozen more. Many have called Singer the “world’s most influential living philosopher". He is often credited with starting the modern animal rights movement. Peter has inspired generations to examine their relationship with their food and to see animals as more than just "things". Peter is an Ira W. DeCamp Professor of Bioethics in the University Center for Human Values at Princeton University.
Peter and I discussed:
- What gave him the original inspiration to write Animal Liberation
- Why Peter thinks people dismiss animal suffering
- What are the 3 biggest ethical catastrophes we face
- Are dogs different from pigs in their capacity to feel?
- The potential of lab-grown meat
- His new book - The Golden Ass
And much more...
My Take: Our consumption habits are taking a toll on the environment, on our lives, and most importantly on the billions of animals we slaughter each year. In the year 2021, it is time we all do some soul-searching and ask ourselves, can we do better? Can we think beyond the steak to see the cow? Think beyond the bacon to see the pig? Most humans are inherently good, I believe, which is why they are scared to ask themselves these questions - as the answers inevitably will result in committing some sort of change - which many people are hesitant to embark upon.