“The fact that animals are not members of the species ‘Homo sapiens’ does not in any way make their pain ethically less important”

Awarded the 15th BBVA Frontiers of Knowledge Award in the Humanities, Peter Singer addresses in this interview the ethical foundations that have guided his career, from the defense of animals to effective altruism. He reflects on how philosophy can inform individual and collective decisions, and on the importance of assessing the real impact of our actions in an interconnected world. His thinking invites us to reconsider our moral obligations and to explore more responsible and compassionate ways of acting.

The BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award in Humanities and Social Sciences is shared by Steven Pinker (Harvard University) and Peter Singer (Princeton University) in recognition of their innovative academic contributions in the spheres of rationality and the moral domain, respectively, which have entered the mainstream of public debate.