Origins & Early Life

Peter Albert David Singer (born 6 July 1946) is an Australian moral philosopher who is Emeritus Ira W. DeCamp Professor of Bioethics at Princeton University. Singer's work specialises in applied ethics, approaching the subject from a secular, utilitarian perspective. His book Animal Liberation (1975) criticized intensive animal farming and speciesism, and shaped the animal rights movement.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

His essay "Famine, Affluence, and Morality" argues for the moral imperative of donating to help the global poor, using the drowning child analogy. For most of his career he was a preference utilitarian. He revealed in The Point of View of the Universe (2014), co-authored with Katarzyna de Lazari-Radek, that he had become a hedonistic utilitarian. His books The Life You Can Save (2009) and The Most Good You Can Do (2015) are influential in the effective altruism movement. On two occasions, Singer served as chair of the philosophy department at Monash University, where he founded its Centre for Human Bioethics.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

In 1996, he stood unsuccessfully as a Greens candidate for the Australian Senate. In 2004, Singer was recognised as the Australian Humanist of the Year by the Council of Australian Humanist...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Adam Michnik — Contemporary (Born in 1946) (1946): Prominent Polish intellectual, dissident, and journalist advocating for democracy.
• Al Green — Contemporary (Born in 1946) (1946): Iconic American soul singer, songwriter, and pastor celebrated for his timeless vocal artistry.
• Alan Rickman — Contemporary (Born in 1946) (1946): Iconic English actor celebrated for his distinctive voice and powerful stage presence.
• 14th Dalai Lama — Shared historical date (07-06 · Born) (1935): Spiritual leader of Tibet and head of Tibetan Buddhism since 1940.
• 50 Cent — Shared historical date (07-06 · Born) (1975): Iconic rapper, actor, and entrepreneur known for raw storytelling and business acumen.
• André the Giant — Historical peer (Born in 1946) (1946): French wrestler and actor, famed for his colossal size and wrestling career.
• Bill Clinton — Historical peer (Born in 1946) (1946): 42nd U.S. President, known for 'Clintonism' and transforming the Democratic Party.
• Alex Rodriguez — Historical peer (Born in 1975) (1975): Legendary baseball player and businessman, known as "A-Rod"
• Allen Iverson — Historical peer (Born in 1975) (1975): Iconic NBA scorer and guard, nicknamed "the Answer", celebrated for his electrifying play.
• 2014 League of Legends World Championship — Historical peer (Born in 2014) (2014): The 4th League of Legends World Championship, held in Asia in 2014.
• 1946 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1946
• July 6 (07-06) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on July 6