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Peter Singer - ordinary people are evil

Jeffrey Kaplan · lecture · Watch on YouTube

Philosophy & ethicsUniversity lectures & courses

What it is

Philosopher Jeffrey Kaplan summarizes Peter Singer's 1972 essay 'Famine, Affluence, and Morality', arguing that failing to give to save lives is morally comparable to letting a child drown. It is a short lecture on the argument's structure.

Why Hacker News recommends it

HN recommends it as the best short exposition of Singer's argument for a duty to give.

  • 2 people recommended it
  • 2 different months
  • 1 strong recommendations
  • first 2023, last 2026

What HN commenters said

  1. “I think the video is the best short exposition but you could try reading the paper the video is about”

    Short lecture giving the strongest argument for duty to give.

    nextaccountic, 2026-07 · Strong recommendation · in “Grok Build Is OSS”

  2. “I think Peter Singer makes the argument very well”

    Presents Singer's argument on obligation to help others.

    guerrilla, 2025-03 · Recommendation · in “Stoicism's appeal to the rich and powerful (2019)”

Excerpts from Hacker News comments, linked to the originals. Summaries and labels were written by a language model from those comments.

Topics: peter singer, effective altruism, moral philosophy, famine affluence morality, charity

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