Peter Singer

Peter Singer

Australian philosopher who specializes in applied ethics approaching the subject from a secular, utilitarian perspective

Equality

The basic principle does not require equal or identical treatment; it requires equal consideration of circumstances

• It is a moral ideal not an assertion of fact

Factual Equality

Based on fact

• Equality in the literal sense

Moral Equality

Equal consideration of interests

• Specific interest: the capacity to suffer

Jeremy Bentham

• English philosopher and social reformer as the founder of modern utilitarianism

• “The question is not can they reason nor can they talk, but can they suffer”

Utilitariansim

• An action is right insofar as it promotes happiness (minimizes suffering)

• The greatest happiness of the greatest number should be the guiding principle of conduct

Equal Considerations of Interest

• The capacity for suffering is the vital characteristic that gives a being the right to equal consideration

• The capacity for suffering and enjoyment is a prereq for having other interests (things that matter to the individual)

Speciesism

A prejudice or bias in favor of the interests of members of one’s own species and against those members of other species

• Failure to give equal consideration of interests to all 

Where to ‘Draw the Line’

Evidence of consciousness or that an animal is aware of their surroundings provides a good starting place for considering the possibility that they experience pain

• We still have a lot to understand about the huge variety of species and their capacity for pain

Integrating Utilitarianism

Many animals feel pain and there is no moral justification for treating their pain as less important than similar amounts of pain felt by humans

• If its wrong to inflict pain on a baby for no good reason, then we must consider it equally wrong to inflict the same amount of pain on a horse (to avoid speciesism)

Jeremy Bentham on Suffering

• Cannot ever see any objection to putting dogs and other inferior animals through pain (no matter if that pain is beneficial to mankind)

• Without prospect of prevalent good, knowingly and willingly inflicting pain on an animal is an act of cruelty

Recap: Peter Singer

• Argues in favor of the equal consideration of interest of all sentient beings with an emphasis on the capacity for suffering

• Approaches ethics from a utilitarian perspective → the greatest good of the greatest number is the only measure of good/ethical behavior