It would be nonsense to say that it was not in the interests of a stone to be kicked along the road...A stone has no interests because it cannot suffer. The capacity for suffering and enjoyment is, however, not only necessary, but also sufficient for us to say that a being has interests - at an absolute minimum, an interest in not suffering. A mouse, for example, does have an interest in not being kicked along the road because it will suffer if it is.
Peter SingerI believe that in this new world that we live in, we often have a responsibility, you know, to actually go beyond the thou shalt nots - that is, the not harming others - and say we can help others and we should be helping others.
Peter SingerAs we realize that more and more things have global impact, I think we're going to get people increasingly wanting to get away from a purely national interest.
Peter SingerWe should aim for our children to be good people, and to live ethical lives that manifest concern for others as well as for themselves.
Peter Singer