Famine, Affluence, and Morality

Name: Famine, Affluence, and Morality
Brand: Tantor Audio
Availability: InStock
Author: Peter Singer
ISBN: 9798350851106

Author: Peter Singer

Narrator: Grant Cartwright

Unabridged: 1 hr 54 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 04/16/2024

Categories: Nonfiction, Philosophy, Social Philosophy, Ethics & Moral Philosophy

Synopsis

In 1972, the young philosopher Peter Singer published "Famine, Affluence and Morality," which rapidly became one of the most widely discussed essays in applied ethics. Through this article, Singer presents his view that we have the same moral obligations to those far away as we do to those close to us. He argued that choosing not to send life-saving money to starving people on the other side of the earth is the moral equivalent of neglecting to save drowning children because we prefer not to muddy our shoes. If we can help, we must—and any excuse is hypocrisy. Singer's extreme stand on our moral obligations to others became a powerful call to arms and continues to challenge people's attitudes towards extreme poverty. Today, it remains a central touchstone for those who argue we should all help others more than we do.

As Bill and Melinda Gates observe in their foreword, in the age of today's global philanthropy, Singer's essay is as relevant now as it ever was. This concise edition collects the original article, two of Singer's more recent popular writings on our obligations to others around the world, and a new introduction by Singer that discusses his current thinking.

About Peter Singer

Peter Singer is a renowned philosopher, professor, and author. In 2005 Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world, and the Gottlieb Duttweiler Institute ranked him third among global thought leaders for 2013.

Peter has written, coauthored, edited, or coedited more than forty books, including Practical Ethics, The Expanding Circle, Rethinking Life and Death, The Ethics of What We Eat (with Jim Mason), and The Most Good You Can Do. His works have appeared in more than twenty-five languages.

Peter was born in Melbourne, Australia, in 1946, and educated at the University of Melbourne and the University of Oxford. After teaching in England, the United States, and Australia, he has, since 1999, been Ira W. DeCamp Professor of Bioethics in the University Center for Human Values at Princeton University. Since 2005 he has combined that position with the position of Laureate Professor at the University of Melbourne, in the School of Historical and Philosophical Studies.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Alex on April 11, 2020

I feel like this helps develop an incredibly shallow perspective on providing aid. It seems to center around offloading effort onto others rather than analyzing how one can more directly contribute to aid, or how structures that lead to extraordinary affluence tend to create the very conditions that......more

Goodreads review by Kathleen on July 01, 2017

I liked this book more than I expected to! Admittedly, the introductions are nearly as long as the original essay and updated article, but the whole thing is worth a read. The author argues that, from a purely moral standpoint, it is wrong NOT to reduce ourselves to near the poverty line and give al......more

Goodreads review by Steven R. on July 24, 2017

Includes Singer's classic 1972 essay "Famine, Affluence, and Morality" as well as two related 2006 articles in The New York Times Sunday Magazine: "The Singer Solution to World Poverty" and "What Should a Billionaire Give—And What Should You?", both aimed at a more general (nonacademic) U.S. audienc......more

Goodreads review by Julia on October 17, 2022

This essay sets forth a simple, challenging idea; concisely addresses some major objections; and leaves it at that. The blurb describes it as 'widely discussed' — I think I would enjoy the discussions more than I enjoyed the essay, but I'm still glad I read it. The conclusion remains: we ought to be......more

Goodreads review by Daniel on April 29, 2020

Such a quick read disproportional to its undeniable impact. If this book doesn't stir up some thought regarding the way you live your life, not much will.......more