Columbia Center for Oral History Portal > Oral history interview with Peter Singer, 2004.Biographical NoteBioethicist Peter Singer was born in Australia in 1946. He has taught at several universities including the University of Oxford, New York University, the University of Colorado at Boulder, the University of California at Irvine, La Trobe University and most recently at Princeton University. Singer also served as a Fellow at Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Singer has authored numerous books including Animal Liberation, Practical Ethics,, and Rethinking Life and Death.
Scope and ContentsIn this two session interview, Peter Singer discusses a range of topics including his family and childhood in Australia; education and activism while in college; interest in ethics and philosophy; employment, research, and writing; and the animal rights movement. Singer discusses his college activism which included participation in the anti-conscription and antiwar movements, and a burgeoning interest in animal issues. Additionally, he worked on the student newspaper and was a member of the Radical Philosophy Group. He recounts meeting David Keshen, Stanley and Roslind Godlovitch who influenced his decision to become a vegetarian. Singer provides detailed information on why and how Animal Liberation was written. He discusses his collaboration and with former student Henry Spira, views on People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), his participation in protest activity, his views on the status of animal advocacy in the United States, and attention given animal rights by the US media. Singer also gives his views on various campaigns aimed at ending animal testing, farming and research issues. Singer also describes assuming the presidency of Animal Rights International (ARI).
SubjectsAccess ConditionsCopyright by the Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York, 2016.
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