You might hold an ethical position that it's wrong to lie, but if you have plans for a war in Iraq, and you want to keep them secret for practical reasons - to reduce casualties, perhaps - and someone asks you about those plans, you may need to lie for a 'good' outcome. Peter Singer askcasualtyethical share on social
I'm a Utilitarian, so I don't see the rule against lying as absolute; it's always subject to some overriding utility which may prevent its exercise. Peter Singer absoluteexerciselie Change image and share on social
I don't think nationalism is alone holding the field; it's in contention with a lot of different things. Peter Singer contentionfieldhold Change image and share on social
I find it extraordinary that anyone would have an intellectual conversion to Roman Catholicism. Peter Singer catholicismconversionextraordinary Change image and share on social
I'm not overly alarmist about it, but I do think there are some worrying signs, like the growing accumulation of wealth by a very small proportion of the population, plus elections in the US are much more dominated by money than anywhere else calling itself a democracy. Peter Singer accumulationalarmistcall share on social
In the sense that you're not at the centre of power, like a president or prime minister of a major power, everyone is marginalised; my position doesn't isn't unique in that respect. I think there are different sorts of relevance in different contexts. Peter Singer centrecontextmajor share on social
If you're buying animal products and can go to the farm and actually see how the animals are looked after, yes, that's an important point. That's definitely the best way of assuring yourself that the animals are being well treated. Peter Singer animalassurebuy share on social
I have never really been fond of animals. I certainly wasn't an 'animal lover' when I became involved in the movement. I just came to be persuaded that animals should be treated as independent sentient beings, not as means to human ends. Peter Singer animalbeingend share on social
What is faith? If you believe something because you have evidence for it, or rational argument, that is not faith. So faith seems to be believing something despite the absence of evidence or rational argument for it. Peter Singer absenceargumentbelieve share on social
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 ideaimpactinstantly Change image and share on social