Lecture by top philosopher

One of the world’s most influential living philosophers, Peter Singer, will visit St Andrews University this week.

Mr Singer will deliver the 2017 Sir Malcolm Knox memorial lecture, Living Ethically in the 21st Century, as part of a conference on ethical giving.

He is a professor of bioethics at Princeton University in America and laureate professor in the school of historical and philosophical studies at the Melbourne University in Australia.

Mr Singer will explore the concept of charity, why we should give and the importance of giving with our heads and not our hearts.

In his latest book, Ethics in the Real World, Mr Singer says: “Those who have enough to spend on luxuries, yet fail to share even a tiny fraction of their income with the poor, must bear some responsibility for the deaths they could have prevented.”

The event is intended as an exciting opportunity for students to engage with the man named by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world, to think about how to do good and debate the strengths and limits of the concept of altruism.

The philosopher, described as the father of the effective altruism movement will give his lecture on Wednesday May 24 in the Buchanan lecture theatre.

The event has generated much interest and tickets have already sold out.