In this book Peter Singer presents his views on the most
difficult problems of modern ethics. The author is probably the
most widely known and popularmoral philosopher of our times. He wrote books such as "Animal Liberation", "Should This BabyLive?" or "The President of Good and Evil" aboutGeorge W. Bush.The controversiousness of his views surelycontributes tohis fame, but we must say that these views are also very consistent and well-grounded. Some admire them, some hate them, but no one stays neutral while Singer breaks commonly recognized axioms, such as extraordinarityof our species andsanctity of human life. Heeven dares to ask: what is wrong about killing? Why should we act morally?The book consists of 12 chapters. Each of them is dedicated to another subject, but the author's way of argumentation looks similarly in every case. The subjects are i.e.: equality, abortion and the status of human embryos, wealth and poverty, protection of environment.
Not only asks he the
questions: he also gives practicalanswers that sometimescan be shocking. But remember: the questions are reallytough and painful and thereseems to benoeasy way.Singer's aim is topoint the best choicein
difficult situations he describes, but traditionalarguments often break downon a closer examination, and we may doubt whether the traditional ways are reallythe best ones. Although the author is an atheist, he does not want to be a moral relativist. He is an utilitarian and his main criterion is that an act or choice should best contribute to good or pleasure of all beings, human and non-human.
I recommend this book to Singer's enemies as well as to his admirers. For the first onesit can behelpfulin making the discussion more efficientand adequate(or maybe they will change their mind). For the second, it is still a good read.