Animal liberation
by Peter Singer · first published 1975
64% recommend36% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Utilitarian case for taking animal suffering seriously, which introduced the idea of speciesism. Valued as a mind-opening read for anyone weighing meat-eating ethics, even those who end up disagreeing.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
Argues that those who oppose human suffering must also oppose inflicting suffering on animals.
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…and when people are willingly disinterested in the welfare of the cows whose milk they consume, we have a good-old-race-to-the-bottom. The most powerful work I've read on the topic is the 1975 classic "Animal Liberation" by a philosopher Peter Singer. In it he uses excerpts from literature written by the industry (presumably the most-rosy picture you can find of the conditions of animals in the factory farms) to show…
on “Most U.S. Dairy Cows Are Descended From Just Two Bulls” ↗…... I Am a Strange Loop by Douglas Hofstadter - strongly influenced my beliefs about how consciousness works Godel, Escher, Bach by Douglas Hofstadter - made me think more deeply about so many topics Animal Liberation by Peter Singer - made me both an animal advocacy activist and strongly influenced me towards a consequentialist moral Neuropath by R. Scott Bakker - more on how consciousness works, this time through…
on “Ask HN: What books have made the biggest impact on your mental models?” ↗…habitat loss, but was not sold on the animal rights front in the slightest. Alex dismantled all my "egotistical" arguments as you put it. I followed it by reading his recommendation of Peter Signers book 'Animal Liberation' which really nailed the coffin as it were. I recommend these videos [1][2] and this book [3] whole-heartedly for those who are on the fence, or even far beyond it but would like a "reasoned" view of…
on “Researchers successfully potty-train cows” ↗No mention of Peter Singer? Agree or disagree with his views, Animal Liberation is an important philosophical work due to its impact on contemporary culture.
on “List of important publications in philosophy” ↗…just as intelligent as young humans), and moral agency (the question of whether animals have it). I'm not saying I agree with these arguments, but they exist, and are worthy of discussion. Peter Singer's Animal Liberation is the work that explained these ideas best, much better than I could. I think it's a great read.
on “Why I'm proud to be a vegan” ↗Animal Liberation by Peter Singer. I read it over 20 years ago. I've been a vegetarian/vegan ever since. There were probably other things I read or saw that contributed to the decision, but that was, I think, the primary…
on “Ask HN: Which non-technology book has influenced you the most and why?” ↗Weird, no Animal Liberation by Peter Singer, one of the best applications of utilitarianism.
on “Eminent Philosophers Name the Most Important Philosophy Books from 1950-2000” ↗I think you've not read much literature from the animal welfare movement (aka 'animal right'). Consider reading the classic 'Animal Liberation' by Peter Singer. You would benefit from reading others' thoughts on this and thinking more deeply about the issue. You claim "feeding people is a necessity" and that it somehow balances out what we…
on “Insect-worn microcamera streams video to phone 120 meters away” ↗…believe in A, you should be cautious that you may be wrong and theory B is correct. If act X is of no great importance to you, it is a prudent decision to avoid doing X. I do recommend everyone read Animal Liberation (1975) by Peter Singer - it's the classic text on animal welfare.
on “What is a resilient chicken?” ↗…farms. Here is a link to the same practices being done in Britain: https://www.landofhopeandglory.org/ These practices are industry standard across the world, though. Peter Singer writes about this in "Animal Liberation". Let me know if you don't want to or cannot pay for a copy of the book and I'll buy it for you. He discusses at _length_ how these standards exists worldwide. Besides, even those small farms are deeply…
on “Animal testing is exploitative and largely ineffective” ↗…think you are: for me the courtesy of non-violence extends to all beings capable of suffering and with a preference to live. For a good read on the ethics of eating animals I'd recommend Peter Singer's 'Animal Liberation'
on “World’s first octopus farm stirs ethical debate” ↗If this topic interests you, I recommend reading “Animal Liberation” by the philosopher Peter Singer. I discovered it during my philosophy classes at university, and eventually became vegetarian as a result of this about 15 years ago. Honestly at this point I can’t…
on “The way we treat pigs is a sin” ↗Singer's is a utilitarian framework for arguments about vegetarianism and other animal-rights issues; not an argument for vegetarianism, per se. Animal Liberation is a great, mind-opening read. > Most people agree that killing primates it morally clearly wrong. Roughly, you're probably right: killing primates is generally wrong. But it's not always, clearly…
on “Dear Dr. Stallman: An Open Letter” ↗Animal Liberation by Peter Singer Peter Singer introduced and popularized the term "speciesism" in the book that is often referred to as the bible of the animal rights movement.
on “Ask HN: Best book you read in 2011” ↗…same qualifications can be found in certain people. That's why it gets fuzzy and icky to start calculating "smart trades" that compromise the rights of some for the good of others. You should check out Animal Liberation by Peter Singer. I'm not saying I agree with everything he supports, but he makes a bullet proof argument supporting the fact that speciesism is just like any other discrimination, and relies on the…
on “Genetically modified salmons approved by the FDA” ↗