Knowledge Exchange

Date: April 21, 2015, Tuesday
Time: 6:15 pm – 7:30 pm
(Tea Reception and Registration start at 5:45 pm)
Venue: Rayson Huang Theatre, The University of Hong Kong

When "Animal Liberation" appeared, in 1975, there was very little philosophical discussion about the ethics of our treatment of animals. Now there is an extensive literature and a continuing lively debate. In his Second Century Lecture, Peter Singer will consider how well the arguments of the book have stood up to critical examination, and what interesting questions remain. He will also briefly review the progress that has been made -- or has not been made -- in changing attitudes and practices regarding animals.


About Professor Singer:
Peter Singer is Ira W. DeCamp Professor of Bioethics, Princeton University, and Laureate Professor, School of Historical and Philosophical Studies, University of Melbourne. The most prominent ethicist of our time, he is the author of more than twenty books including the groundbreaking "Animal Liberation", first published in 1975. In 2005 Time magazine named him one of the 100 most important people, and in 2013 he was third on the Gottlieb Duttweiler Institute’s ranking of Global Thought Leaders. He was made a Companion of the Order of Australia, the nation’s highest civic honour, in 2012 and is the founder of The Life You Can Save, an effective altruism group that encourages people to donate money to the most effective charities working today. His latest work, "The Most Good You Can Do: How Effective Altruism Is Changing Ideas About Living Ethically", will be published by Yale University Press in April 2015.

About the Second Century Lecture Series:
The Second Century Lecture Series aims to maintain the momentum of the University's Centenary celebrations by bringing the most distinguished scholars in their field to share their experience and world-class expertise with the University and the public.

This Second Century Lecture is organised by the Faculty of Arts and supported by the Faculty of Social Sciences, The Hong Kong International Literary Festival, and Swindon Book Co Ltd.