Meeting Peter Singer
That's Nassau Hall, the historic main building of Princeton University. The town of Princeton in the Fall is quite beautiful. It's too early for the snow just yet; but there's a bite in the air and you can tell that the weather is readying itself for the first fall. I lived here for a few years in the mid-90s and it's been wonderful to walk familiar paths and reminisce. Every corner brings a nostalgia rush.
I've come to Princeton to interview a university professor described by some commentators as "the most dangerous man in the world". He is, of course, Peter Singer, the man named by the New Yorker as the most influential philosopher alive today, but whose defence of infanticide has earned him death threats. I'm here with a film crew to record a longish interview tomorrow morning as part of a new television series which will air sometime in the new year. The format is simple: myself and a guest in conversation. And the guests are signficant "climate changers" -- people who are changing, or trying to change, the way we think about some important issues facing the world today. We stopped by at his office today, in the university's Center for Human Values, and chatted about tomorrow's sit-down interview. Singer is a man of few words. Straight to the point. He's authored more than thirty books and says (somewhere in my research notes) that he much prefers to sit and write rather than sit and talk. But when he does talk about significant matters that interest him, one is in no doubt that he has thought long and hard about every turn of an argument. I'm looking forward to the interview. We'll talk about infanticide, animal welfare issues, and his more recent writings on global poverty.
Comments
This is a great article.
It’s a pity that you could not travel back in time and interview Jonathan Edwards who was considered to be the greatest mind of his time, and Gilbert Tennent who had a hand in building Nassua Hall so to speak by raising funds for it, men of their calibre are sadly missing in our theological establishments of today.
Are all the climate changers you are going to interview be liberal radicals William?
We have already see the athiests and abortionsis in recent entries...
PB
PB
What is your definition of a Liberal and what is the problem with Liberalism?
Perhaps you'd like everyone who fits in your definition to sew a neat yellow "L" on their sleeve to make things easy for you?
Singer's presentation of his philosophy is fantastic, although I disagree with him on virtually every issue (with the exception of euthanasia, and some of what he says about abortion). My biggest problem with his ethical outlook is that it's quite artificial - like most versions of utilitarianism - unhuman, and a tad unnatural. Utilitarianism, of any brand, is the ethics of the deluded.
SG
GW
No problems with liberals have their place, rights and voice in society.
I am simply saying the Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú is paid by all for all, it should not just have liberal/humanist guests.
PB
I like the sound of the guest list PB. Who would you like to see interviewed? That bishop obviously isnt a humanist (he believes in God!!). I've googled Ruth Lea and she's as far right as Thatcher was!
Jill
I did not actually call the bishop a humanist but he is certainly a theological liberal.
As for Ruth Lea I dont know who she is. But you appear to be jumping to a conclusion about my politics because of a faith comment I have made.
I certainly believe the bible and Christ had a strong bias to the poor, but that is not an endorsement of marxism.
PB
ps Jill
I have put my guest list on a later blog entry.
PB
I liked your web site and indeed your music.