Is morality human? | Peter Singer, Slavoj Žižek, Nancy Sherman
Feb 11, 2025
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Peter Singer, a leading philosopher on animal rights, joins Slavoj Žižek, a provocative cultural critic, and Nancy Sherman, an expert on Stoicism. They tackle whether morality is a uniquely human trait or extends to non-human entities. The conversation dives into ecological ethics, challenging human-centered views of morality and considering the impact of our interventions in nature. With wit and depth, they explore moral evolution in social animals and dietary ethics, prompting a reevaluation of our responsibilities towards all sentient beings.
Peter Singer argues for extending our moral consideration to all sentient beings, challenging the notion that morality is exclusively human-centric.
The debate examines the implications of attributing moral agency to non-human animals, suggesting a need to rethink ethical frameworks involving nature.
Deep dives
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Rethinking Human-Centered Morality
Debate participants explore whether humanity's moral framework is inherently human-centric or if it can evolve to include the interests of non-human entities. Peter Singer advocates for centering morality around all sentient beings that can experience pleasure or pain, arguing for an ethical consideration that extends beyond just humans. The discussion challenges the idea that morality should prioritize human welfare at the expense of the natural world, highlighting the need to protect nature for its own sake. This shift prompts questions about how to evaluate nature's well-being outside of human perspectives.
Morality in Non-Human Animals
The conversation includes a significant examination of whether non-human animals possess moral agency and a sense of justice. Singer presents evidence from primatological studies, such as the grooming behaviors among chimpanzees and reciprocity observed in capuchin monkeys, suggesting that these species exhibit a basic sense of fairness. This challenges traditional assumptions that morality is exclusively human, indicating that ethical considerations should also include the needs and rights of other sentient beings. Participants explore the complexities of attributing moral responsibility to animals, raising important questions about how we perceive their actions and well-being.
Intrinsic Value of Nature and Moral Trade-Offs
The debate addresses the intrinsic value of nature and whether actions can be morally justified if no sentient beings are harmed. Singer posits that actions against nature lack moral grounding unless they directly harm sentient beings, presenting a utilitarian perspective on environmental ethics. Participants discuss the implications of such views, highlighting the potential tensions between human activities and the broader environmental context. This exploration acknowledges the complexity of nature's balance, challenging the assumption that humans hold supremacy over ecological systems and encouraging more thoughtful interactions with both nature and non-human animals.
Do animals and nature have an ethical life of their own? Must, or should, we extend our morality to non-human entities, or are their limits to notions of ethics?
Tune in to hear three world-famous philosophers on ethical issues discuss these questions from their different perspectives: Peter Singer has made a name for himself defending the rights and feelings of all sentient creatures; Slavoj Zizek enjoys turning established ideas on their head; and Nancy Sherman always brings insights from her beloved Aristotle and the stoics. The discussion is at times rigorous and philosophical, and other times provocative and fun.