>Peter Singer

Are you a fan? He seems to have few, but I reckon the man's a legend. Though spouting utilitarianism means whenever I'm out with friends I now have to veto all conversations on politics or ethics to ensure my personal safety.

Ach well.

I remember John Haldane - he was just loevly, and was possibly the best lecturer I've ever been taught by. Yes, he is a devout Catholic - and has popped up on the odd Sunday religious programme on that very subject - but as you say, you would not guess from his lectures. What a professional!

The other guy sounds like a tit.

L

By 'other guy' I meant M. Tye, not Peter Singer. I do remember enjoying his work, but have been lazy and haven't gone near a philosophy book for the best part of 15 years.

L

Peter Singer's books on ethics are among the best ever written, I reckon. They show brilliantly how to apply reason and logic to ethical issues. Whether you agree with his conclusions (I don't) is hardly the point.

The nature of philosophy isn't well understood by the general public, which is why Singer's so notorious. People just look at his conclusions and start screaming. They don't understand that he's not a politician. They also don't understand that their own morality is the result of centuries of thinking by people like Singer.

I reckon I'm a utilitarian. Utilitarianism's all about choosing the lesser of two evils, really, isn't it? And it actually provides you with a method of calculating which evil is the lesser.