35 pages 1 hour read

Peter Singer

Animal Liberation: A New Ethics for Our Treatment of Animals

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 1977

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics.

Important Quotes

Quotation Mark Icon

“We have to speak up on behalf of those who cannot speak for themselves.”


(Chapter 1, Page 20)

In the above quote, Singer appeals to the reader’s guilt and arrogance. Protecting those who are unable to protect themselves is a moral and ethical obligation inherent to the human condition. In making this argument, Singer taps into the emotions of the reader, into the feelings of guilt and sympathy that most people have in the face of another creature’s suffering. By insisting that humans are the heroes who have to “speak up” for those who are unable to, Singer speaks to the ego as well.

Quotation Mark Icon

“By ceasing to rear and kill animals for food, we can make so much extra food available for humans that, properly distributed, it would eliminate starvation and malnutrition from this planet. Animal Liberation is Human Liberation too.”


(Chapter 1, Page 22)

Singer offers numerous reasons to switch over to a vegetarian diet. He makes a case for it by offering statistics about the treatment of animals, the impact eating meat has on the environment, and information about the food waste that comes from rearing animals for slaughter. All of these statistics allow the reader to clearly see the true cost of eating meat.

Quotation Mark Icon

“The basic principle of equality does not require equal or identical treatment; it requires equal consideration. Equal consideration for different beings may lead to different treatment and different rights.”


(Chapter 1, Page 23)

This is the primary foundation of Singer’s argument for “speciesism.” By proving that equality is not based on uniformity, he is able to then include animals in the dialogue of egalitarianism. It cannot be argued that animals are different from people, and instead of denying this, Singer chooses to focus on those differences.

Related Titles

By Peter Singer

Study Guide

logo

Famine, Affluence, and Morality

Peter Singer

Famine, Affluence, and Morality

Peter Singer

Study Guide

logo

The Life You Can Save

Peter Singer

The Life You Can Save: How To Do Your Part To End World Poverty

Peter Singer

Study Guide

logo

The Singer Solution to World Poverty

Peter Singer

The Singer Solution to World Poverty

Peter Singer