Very Practical Ethics: Engaging Everyday Moral Questions

by David Benatar

In Very Practical Ethics David Benatar discusses some of the moral problems that ordinary people face in their everyday lives. These are not moral problems that arise only in extraordinary circumstances, nor those which are confronted only by select people in their professional or public roles; rather, they are problems that most people face on a daily basis. They are “very practical” issues, both because of their ubiquity, and because individuals are usually able to act on their decisions.

Among these very practical When is sex morally permissible? What duties does an individual have regarding the environment? When may we engage in practices such as smoking that might cause discomfort or increase the risk of harm to others? How extensive are our duties to assist the world's poor and others in dire need of help? Is it morally permissible to consume animals and their products? When is language prejudicial? Is it wrong to swear? How should we address and refer to others? When, if ever, is controversial humour morally permissible? Is it always wrong to bullshit, or to fail to call out the bullshit of others? When should we forgive--or not forgive?

Written accessibly and covering topics not often discussed by moral philosophers, Very Practical Ethics will be of interest to students and other readers who care about how we might resolve the kinds of ethical issues we all face every day.

Genres: Philosophy, Nonfiction

456 pages, Hardcover

Published October 1, 2024

About the author

David Benatar (born 1966) is a South African philosopher, academic and author. He is best known for his advocacy of antinatalism in his book Better Never to Have Been: The Harm of Coming into Existence, in which he argues that coming into existence is a serious harm, regardless of the feelings of the existing being once brought into existence, and that, as a consequence, it is always morally wrong to create more sentient beings.

Benatar is vegan, and has taken part in debates on veganism. He has argued that humans are "responsible for the suffering and deaths of billions of other humans and non-human animals. If that level of destruction were caused by another species we would rapidly recommend that new members of that species not be brought into existence." He has also argued that the outbreak of zoonotic diseases, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, is often the result of how humans mistreat animals.

Benatar is an atheist and has stated that he has no children of his own.

Reviews

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really admire how clear and balanced Benatar is in his writing. The chapters I found most interesting were the ones on the ethics of sex, individual greenhouse gas emissions, bullshit, and forgiveness. Another everyday ethical issue I would've liked to see him tackle is gossip.

[Colton · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's excellent. It cements Benatar as a writer I deeply respect. I'll read whatever he writes from now on, just to see him think on the page.

[Will White · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came to this book as a dedicated Benatarian. I'm a vegan and an antinatalist, and I've read his two most important books (“Better Never to Have Been” and “The Human Predicament”) so just know that I am distinctly parti pris, and I have no compunction about it.

Benatar starts off the book by saying that it's not a self-help manual, and the ensuing chapters bear that out. This is, however, a manual to thinking philosophically. Thinking philosophically is hard, and this book can be exhausting to read in a way that I didn't not find his earlier books.

The quality of thought on display in this book shows why Benatar is the dominant player in the field of philosophy today. He can philosophize circles around people who are way more famous and revered. My favorite part of this book is Benatar's dissection of Peter Singer's famous “puddle” thought exercise.

I'd guess that many people who will consider reading this book will be acquainted with this example (it's endlessly trotted out on podcasts and articles in the “Effective Altrusim” space.) But if you're like me, you'll marvel at how many layers of additional thought can go into analyzing a problem that seemed self-evidently simple.

I'm tempted to say this book “isn't for everyone” but I'm equally tempted to say that it is! You'll have to have patience reading it, and you'll need an open mind, but this is truly a visit to the intellectual gym and well worth it.