Summary: Peter Singer reflects upon Derek Parfits death, and talks about moral objectivity, malaria, climate change, existential risks, and doing your personal best when it comes to helping others.

Peter Singer is often considered one of the worlds most influential and controversial practical ethicists. He has published many books and papers with extremely lucid but stark arguments about concern for farmed animal welfare , theories of personhood, and our moral obligation to those in extreme poverty . Recently he has also become one of the leading voices of the effective altruism movement , arguing that we should put much greater emphasis on evidence in our charitable and other altruistic endeavors. Singer is an early member of Giving What We Can , a secular pledge that members take to give 10% or more of their income to whatever organizations that will help others the most. His own organization, The Life You Can Save , is responsible for disseminating information about effective giving and moving millions of dollars to organizations that are most effective at combating the ills of extreme poverty.

He is also a good friend of famed philosopher Derek Parfit, whose recent passing in January has the entire philosophy world mourning .

I recently had the honor to interview Professor Singer about his interactions with Derek Parfit, his views on what is the right thing to do, and what his favorite trolley problems are.