In appropriate circumstances we are justified in using humans to achieve goals (or the goal of assisting animals). Peter Singer More Quotes by Peter Singer More Quotes From Peter Singer Philosophy is not politics, and we do our best, within our all-too-human limitations, to seek the truth, not to score points against opponents. There is little satisfaction in gaining an easy triumph over a weak opponent while ignoring better arguments against your views. Peter Singer triumphviewsphilosophy Ethics seems a morass which we have to cross, but get hopelessly bogged in when we make the attempt. Peter Singer ethicscrossesseems If evolution is a struggle for survival, why hasn't it ruthlessly eliminated altruists, who seem to increase another's prospects of survival at the cost of their own? Peter Singer costsurvivalstruggle Human beings are social animals. We were social before we were human. Peter Singer humanssocialanimal So, basically, my view is I don't want to support the exploitation of animals, and within reason, I will do what I can to avoid it, but it's not like it's a religion for me. It's not like I consider I'm polluted if somehow some bit of milk or cheese or something passes my lips. Peter Singer supportviewsanimal It is now generally accepted that the roots of our ethics lie in patterns of behavior that evolved among our pre-human ancestors, the social mammals and that we retain within our biological nature elements of these evolved responses. We have learned considerably more about this responses, and we are beginning to to understand how they interact with our capacity to reason. Peter Singer mammalsrootslying The core of ethics runs deep in our species and is common to human beings everywhere. It survives the most appalling hardships and the most ruthless attempts to deprive human beings of their humanity. Nevertheless, some people resist the idea that his core has a biological basis which we have inherited from our pre-human ancestors. Peter Singer runningpeopleideas Why...is the hunter who shoots a deer for venison subject to more criticism than the person who buys a ham at the supermarket? Overall, it is probably the intensively reared pig who has suffered more. Peter Singer criticismanimalpigs The hope of internet anarchists was that repressive governments would have only two options: accept the internet with its limitless possibilities of spreading information, or restrict internet access to the ruling elite and turn your back on the 21st century, as North Korea has done. Peter Singer internet-accesskoreagovernment The idea that we can actually have an impact on places more or less instantly, too, by responding in some way or not responding, I think, also makes it true. Peter Singer impactideasthinking The Pentagon said that these prisoners were kept in accordance with the Geneva Convention, and of course I was not reassured by that, but I couldn't prove that that was wrong; so we're clearer about that. Peter Singer pentagonconventionssaid Herbert Spencer is little read now. Philosophers do not regard him as a major thinker. Social Darwinism has long been in disrepute. Peter Singer philosopherlittleslong The new freedom of expression brought by the Internet goes far beyond politics. People relate to each other in new ways, posing questions about how we should respond to people when all that we know about them is what we have learned through a medium that permits all kinds of anonymity and deception. Peter Singer deceptionexpressionpeople It's also much clearer how much damage the occupation of Iraq is doing to America's reputation and prestige around the world; and that's just starting now to hit home in the United States. Peter Singer iraqhomeamerica In a situation where many national leaders do the same thing and look out for national interests, and with an issue like global warming, you're likely to get no solution, so I think you have to have some kind of ethical trump on some of those issues. Peter Singer issuesleaderthinking Beginning to reason is like stepping onto an escalator that leads upward and out of sight. Once we take the first step, the distance to be traveled is independent of our will and we cannot know in advance where we shall end. Peter Singer distanceindependentsight There can be no brotherhood when some nations indulge in previously unheard of luxuries, while others struggle to stave off famine. Peter Singer luxuryindulge-instruggle I honestly don't know, but if America continues to refuse to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, I see a bleak future not only for American society, but for the world as a whole. This is a global problem that is not going away, and the United States is an obstacle to solving it. Peter Singer united-statesgoing-awayamerica I suppose what's happened recently has confirmed suspicions I voiced in the book, and I think made clearer some of those things that I point out. For instance I have a section of the book where I talk about the possibility of torture. Peter Singer possibilitybookthinking The goal of maximizing the welfare of all may be better achieved by an ethic that accepts our inclinations and harnesses them so that, taken as a whole, the system works to everyone's advantage. Peter Singer takengoalmay
