Mar 5, 2024
Peter Singer and Shih Chao-Hwei
The Buddhist and the Ethicist: Conversations on effective altrusism, engaged Buddhism, and how to build a better world
ABOUT THE BUDDHIST AND THE ETHICIST
Eastern spirituality and utilitarian philosophy meet in these
unique dialogues between a Buddhist monastic and a moral
philosopher on such issues as animal welfare, gender equality, the
death penalty, and more
An unlikely duo—Professor Peter Singer, a preeminent philosopher and professor of bioethics, and Venerable Shih Chao-Hwei, a Taiwanese Buddhist monastic and social activist—join forces to talk ethics in lively conversations that cross oceans, overcome language barriers, and bridge philosophies. The eye-opening dialogues collected here share unique perspectives on contemporary issues like animal welfare, gender equality, the death penalty, and more. Together, these two deep thinkers explore the foundation of ethics and key Buddhist concepts, and ultimately reveal how we can all move toward making the world a better place.
“A remarkable and historical meeting of minds between one of the
greatest philosophers of our times and a leading proponent of
Buddhist ethics, grounded on utilitarianism and guided by
compassion and insight, which aims at preventing and relieving all
kinds of suffering, whatever they might be, and doing as much good
as possible to all sentient beings without discrimination.”
—Matthieu Ricard, author of Altruism and A Plea for Animals
“Few things are more enlightening than good dialogue, and this
engrossing conversation between a Western philosopher and an Asian
Buddhist is a case in point. Their probing exploration of each
other’s worldviews illuminates key concepts in the Buddhist and
utilitarian traditions and reveals an underlying unity; these two
schools of thought, though quite different in cultural ancestry,
exhibit much commonality of purpose and spirit as they address some
of life’s most important and challenging questions.”
—Robert Wright, author of Why Buddhism Is True
“The Buddhist and the Ethicist is a fascinating exchange between
two brilliant and wide-ranging thinkers who were originally brought
together because of their shared interests in animal welfare. Their
conversations cover a staggering array of topics, and I truly
enjoyed seeing what came out of their extremely active brains and
hearts and how much they got mine going in many different
directions. I guarantee you, too, will rethink some views you have
on different ethical questions and will be exposed to many
situations and dilemmas about which you’ve rarely or never thought.
I know I’ll be returning to this valuable collection time and time
again.”
—Marc Bekoff, University of Colorado, author of The Animals’
Agenda: Freedom, Compassion, and Coexistence in the Human Age (with
Jessica Pierce) and A Dog’s World: Imagining the Lives of Dogs in a
World Without Humans (with Jessica Pierce)
“This gem of a book invites readers to listen in as two
brilliant contemporary moral philosophers talk about what it means
to be a good person and live an ethical life. The Buddhist and the
Ethicist offers us a living encounter between Western and Eastern
moral traditions. We have the honor of sitting in as Peter Singer,
one of the West’s most innovative and influential utilitarian
philosophers, and Shih Chao-Hwei, a prominent Buddhist scholar,
monastic, and activist, talk some of the most contentious and
significant moral issues of our time, including human-animal
relations, equality, sexuality, and effective altruism. Singer and
Chao-Hwei show us how to have constructive, respectful dialogue
about values—a skill more vitally important now than ever before.
They remind us that it is possible to begin from seemingly
conflicting points of view and, through open-minded conversation,
to find and expand common ground.”
—Jessica Pierce, author of Who’s a Good Dog? And How to Be a Better
Human
“This timely and stimulating dialogue between Professor Peter
Singer and Venerable Chao-Hwei Shih takes place at the intersection
between altruism and engaged Buddhism. Their many conversations
through the intervening years have examined diverse and relevant
social issues during the twenty-first century. Their incisive
examination of ethical considerations for all life-forms, while
ages old, are brought together in this book through candid
discussions about ending life and killing from in utero, to
euthanasia, suicide, and killing during wartime. At the same time,
their dialogue integrates the crosscutting themes of women and
equality, sexuality, animal rights, and more. I invite you to
become a part of their dialogue through which you can revisit these
topics that transcend cultures and countries.”
—Sulak Sivaraksa, author, activist, and cofounder of the
International Network of Engaged Buddhists
“An enlightening exploration of ethics, altruism, and social
justice through the engaging dialogue between a prominent
philosopher and a great scholar of Buddhism. A must-read for those
seeking to expand their understanding of these traditions and the
pressing issues of our time.”
—Netiwit Chotiphatphaisal, student activist, author, and engaged
Buddhist
“A wonderful book that does what philosophy and religious
teachings are supposed to do: challenge us to think better, to live
better, and to be better.”
—Ryan Holiday, podcast host and author of The Daily Stoic
“Their dialogues unfold in rigorous detail and probe rich and
trenchant ethical questions. . . . Plenty of insight in these
thought-provoking and challenging investigations.”
—Publishers Weekly
“In this fascinating book, Singer and Chao-Hwei explore dynamic
topics, including animal welfare, capital punishment, gender
equality, and the foundations of both Buddhism and ethics.”
—Tricycle
“Particularly illuminating is Chao-Hwei’s clarification of
terms, often misunderstood in the West, such as karma, rebirth and
nirvana, as well as the central role and nature of compassion in
Buddhist ethics. For those interested in how nuanced philosophical
thought can inform our daily lives and actions, this accessible
meeting of minds is a good place to start.”
—The Sydney Morning Herald (Non-fiction pick of the week)