Peter Singer / Singer - Tutorial Preparation Sheet

L ecture 1 – Singer’s Principle

http://www.abc.net.au/compass/s2657896.htm

Background questions:

1. What was Singer’s principle?

2. What were the 2 scenarios given in the Shallow Pond example?

3. What comparison did Singer make between them?

4. What does Singer conclude from the comparison?

5. According to Singer, can we leave all foreign aid to the government?

Tutorial discussion questions:

6. Would you accept Singer’s principle? Why or why not?

7. In your opinion, is there any significant difference between the two situations?

8. If you were to accept Singer’s principle, how would that affect you? What would you be required to do to respect that principle?

9. Are there any problems if we accept Singer’s argument & follow it to its logical end? What are they?

10. Singer’s principle tells us to value one kind of good thing. Are there other good things that we could reasonably value, but which are incompatible with Singer’s good?