Summary of Peter Singer's Practical Ethics

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Sample Book Insights: #1 The book is about practical ethics, which is the application of ethics or morality to practical issues. It is important to understand that while we may be impatient to get to the issues, we must first discuss ethics so that we have a clear understanding of what we are doing when we discuss ethical questions. #2 Morality is no longer seen as a set of prohibitions concerning sex. There are more important ethical issues to consider these days. #3 Ethics is not a system of simple rules, and it is not applicable to the real world because it is a system of judgments that guide practice. Consequentialism, which is a form of utilitarianism, is a realistic approach to ethics that takes into account the circumstances of an action. #4 Morality is not given to us by a divine creator. It seems that we have evolved a moral faculty that generates intuitions about right and wrong. Some of these we share with our primate relatives, who also have a strong sense of reciprocity.