8 /10 1 Votes
Language English Originally published 1979 Page count 395 (second edition) Country United States of America | 4/5 Goodreads Pages 395 (second edition) Subject Ethics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Publication date 1979 (first edition)
1993 (second edition)
2011 (third edition) Media type Print (Hardcover and Paperback) ISBN 0-521-43971-X (second edition paperback) Publisher Cambridge University Press Similar Peter Singer books, Ethics books | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Peter singer practical ethics predation
Practical Ethics (1979; second edition 1993; third edition 2011) is an introduction to applied ethics by bioethical philosopher Peter Singer. The book, which has been translated into a number of languages, caused outrage in German-speaking countries.
Contents
Summary
Singer analyzes, in detail, why and how beings' interests should be weighed. In his view, a being's interests should always be weighed according to that being's concrete properties, and not according to its belonging to some abstract group. Singer studies a number of ethical issues including: race, sex, ability, species, abortion, euthanasia, infanticide, embryo experimentation, the moral status of animals, political violence, overseas aid, and whether we have an obligation to assist others. The 1993 second edition adds chapters on refugees, the environment, equality and disability, embryo experimentation, and the treatment of academics in Germany. A third edition published in 2011 omits the chapter on refugees, and contains a new chapter on climate change.
Reception
Practical Ethics is widely read and was described as "an excellent text for an introductory ethics course" by philosopher John Martin Fischer. Philosopher James Rachels recommended the book "as an introduction centered on such practical issues as abortion, racism, and so forth." Philosopher Mylan Engel called Practical Ethics "must reading for anyone interested in living an ethical life."
The book caused outrage in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.