Vancouver Book Club: Ethics in the Real World by Peter Singer

Ethics in the Real World: 82 Brief Essays on Things That Matter by Peter Singer

Provocative essays on real-world ethical questions from the world's most influential philosopher

Peter Singer is often described as the world's most influential philosopher. He is also one of its most controversial. The author of important books such as Animal Liberation, Practical Ethics, Rethinking Life and Death, and The Life You Can Save, he helped launch the animal rights and effective altruism movements and contributed to the development of bioethics. Now, in Ethics in the Real World, Singer shows that he is also a master at dissecting important current events in a few hundred words.

In this book of brief essays, he applies his controversial ways of thinking to issues like climate change, extreme poverty, animals, abortion, euthanasia, human genetic selection, sports doping, the sale of kidneys, the ethics of high-priced art, and ways of increasing happiness. Singer asks whether chimpanzees are people, smoking should be outlawed, or consensual sex between adult siblings should be decriminalized, and he reiterates his case against the idea that all human life is sacred, applying his arguments to some recent cases in the news. In addition, he explores, in an easily accessible form, some of the deepest philosophical questions, such as whether anything really matters and what is the value of the pale blue dot that is our planet. The collection also includes some more personal reflections, like Singer’s thoughts on one of his favourite activities, surfing, and an unusual suggestion for starting a family conversation over a holiday feast.

Now with a new afterword by the author, this provocative and original book will challenge—and possibly change—your beliefs about many real-world ethical questions.

Unless otherwise noted, the BC Humanist book club will be held on the first Tuesday of every month online.

Please suggest books for upcoming months and invite anyone who may be interested.

Please email Dan at [email protected] for instructions on how to connect.

WHEN
May 05, 2020 at 7:00pm - 9pm Pacific Time (US & Canada)
WHERE
Online
Dunbar
Vancouver, BC
Canada
Google map and directions
CONTACT
Kirsten Brawn · 604 269 2654

Will you come?



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