Peter Albert David Singer, a name synonymous with contemporary ethical discourse, has transitioned to emeritus status at Princeton University on July 1, 2024, after an impactful 25-year tenure. Renowned amongst colleagues and consistently ranked as one of the most influential living philosophers, Peter Albert David Singer is celebrated for his profound contributions to applied ethics, a field that explores the practical implications of ethical principles in everyday decision-making. His work, underpinned by the utilitarian philosophy emphasizing “the greatest good for the greatest number,” has not only shaped academic discourse but has also spurred real-world action and debate. Notably, during his time at Princeton, Singer refined his interpretation of utilitarianism, shifting from anti-realism and preference utilitarianism, his initial stance under the tutelage of Oxford philosopher R. M. Hare, towards moral realism and hedonistic utilitarianism. This evolution in thought paralleled his consistent commitment to practical ethics, exemplified by his donation of the entire $1 million Berggruen Prize for Philosophy and Culture in 2021, a testament to his principles in action.
Born in Melbourne, Australia, on July 6, 1946, to Austrian Jewish parents who sought refuge from Nazi-annexed Austria in 1938, Peter Albert David Singer’s early life was marked by a global historical upheaval that subtly informed his later ethical inquiries. He received his foundational education at Preshil School and Scotch College before pursuing higher studies at the University of Melbourne, culminating in a bachelor’s degree in 1967 and a master’s degree in 1969. His academic journey then led him to the University of Oxford, where he earned a B.Phil. in 1971 and subsequently held a Radcliffe Lecturer position. Following brief teaching stints at New York University and La Trobe University, Singer solidified his academic presence at Monash University’s Department of Philosophy in 1977, ascending to positions such as department chair, associate dean, and director of the Centre for Human Bioethics. Before his Princeton appointment in 1999 as the Ira W. DeCamp Professor of Bioethics, Singer’s career was already distinguished by leadership and scholarly output. Demonstrating a continued connection to his Australian roots, from 2005, Peter Albert David Singer adopted a partial duty-time arrangement with Princeton, enabling him to spend each spring semester in Australia. During this period, he served as Laureate Professor at the University of Melbourne across various departments until 2019, further cementing his influence in both hemispheres.
Peter Albert David Singer’s seminal work, Animal Liberation: A New Ethics for Our Treatment of Animals (1975), extended the scope of utilitarian ethics to non-human animals, arguing that their capacity to experience suffering necessitates ethical consideration. This groundbreaking book posited that the ability to feel pain, rather than species membership, should be the basis for moral status, leading to his advocacy for vegetarianism and veganism and a critical stance against animal experimentation. Recognized for its transformative impact, Animal Liberation was featured in TIME magazine’s list of the 100 Best Nonfiction Books of the 20th Century, underscoring its lasting influence on ethical thought and activism.
Another pivotal contribution is Singer’s 1972 essay, “Famine, Affluence, and Morality,” later republished as a book in 2015 with a foreword by Bill and Melinda Gates. In this work, Peter Albert David Singer articulated the now-famous “drowning child” analogy, illustrating the moral imperative for affluent individuals to donate a significant portion of their income to alleviate global poverty. He argued that geographical distance and national borders do not diminish this obligation. The core principle—that if suffering can be prevented without sacrificing something of comparable moral importance, it is morally obligatory to act—became a cornerstone of effective altruism. This movement, championed by Singer both academically and publicly, emphasizes using reason and evidence to maximize the positive impact of charitable actions. While effective altruism has evolved through diverse interpretations and faced criticisms, Singer’s focus, particularly in books like The Life You Can Save: Acting Now to End World Poverty (2009) and The Most Good You Can Do: How Effective Altruism Is Changing Ideas About Living Ethically (2015), and through his co-founding of the nonprofit The Life You Can Save, remains on practical, impactful strategies for poverty reduction and suffering alleviation. Princeton colleague Angus Deaton aptly noted Singer’s exceptional influence: “It is hard to think of any scholar whose work has been as practically influential as has Peter’s… His writings on practical ethics really did change the world.”
Beyond animal ethics and effective altruism, Peter Albert David Singer has contributed significantly to diverse areas of philosophy, including studies on Henry Sidgwick and Karl Marx, and was instrumental in shaping the field of bioethics. The breadth of his scholarly impact was reflected in the farewell conference hosted by the University Center for Human Values (UCHV) in his honor, featuring panels spanning utilitarianism, freedom of expression, extreme poverty, bioethics, and animal rights. His commitment to free speech is further evidenced by his co-founding of the Journal of Controversial Ideas. Singer’s extensive bibliography includes numerous books translated into multiple languages and multiple editions, alongside a plethora of named lectures and prestigious awards. He was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia in 2012 and received the University’s Howard T. Behrman Award for Distinguished Achievement in the Humanities in May, further acknowledging his profound and varied contributions.
Reflecting on Singer’s impact at Princeton, President Emeritus Harold T. Shapiro remarked, “…few have captured our students’ intellectual imagination in quite the same way.” As director of the Ira W. DeCamp Bioethics Seminars, Peter Albert David Singer facilitated interdisciplinary discussions across philosophy, biology, medicine, and public policy. His course, Practical Ethics, became a landmark at Princeton, attracting hundreds of undergraduates biannually and fostering a community deeply engaged with ethical considerations while upholding principles of free speech and thought. Furthermore, Peter Albert David Singer’s dedication extended to mentoring students through the Human Values Forum, a weekly gathering for students and faculty to discuss ethical questions, demonstrating his consistent support for student-led intellectual exploration.
Despite stepping down from his active Princeton role, Peter Albert David Singer’s ongoing vocation in humanitarian causes, driven by his moral clarity and philosophical rigor, is anticipated to continue. His legacy as a transformative ethical thinker and advocate for practical action remains firmly established, promising continued influence in academia and beyond.
