DEATH IN A SHALLOW POND: The Birth Of Effective Altruism

Imagine you’re walking past a shallow pond and spot a toddler in obvious danger of drowning. You’re the only person who can save them and you must act immediately. But you remember that you’re wearing your most expensive shoes and wading into the water will ruin them. Should you let the child drown?

In 1972 philosopher Peter Singer proposed this thought experiment to argue that allowing people in the developing world to die, when we could easily help them by giving money to charity, is as morally reprehensible as saving our shoes instead of the drowning child. Can this possibly be true?

Join David Edmonds as he discusses his new book, Death in a Shallow Pond, and argues that the concept still retains the power to shape how we live in a world in which terrible and unnecessary suffering persists.

David traces the remarkable story of Singer and his controversial idea; how it radically changed the way we think about poverty, the establishment of the Effective Altruism movement, and also how it provoked scathing criticisms for being unrealistic and counterproductive.

David Edmonds will be 'In Conversation' with Prof. Gordon Finlayson.

David Edmonds is a philosopher and Distinguished Research Fellow at Oxford University’s Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics. He is a columnist for the New Statesman and produces the popular podcast series Philosophy Bites with Nigel Warburton, and also presents Social Science Bites.

David is the author of many books, including The M**der of Professor Schlick, Would You K*ll the Fat Man?, Parfit and the international best-seller Wittgenstein’s Poker, with John Eidinow.

Gordon Finlayson is Emeritus Professor of Philosophy at Sussex University and Director of The Centre for Social & Political Thought.
He was a member of the Executive Committee of the British Philosophical Association from 2004-2012 and Chair of the Society for European Philosophy until 2011. Gordon actively campaigns for the humanities and philosophy in Higher Education.

Thinking of coming with friends? Why not add to your special night out and enjoy the show in the comfort of a private booth (seats 5). See the 'BOOK A BOOTH' option in the ticket section.

David will also be signing copies of his new book, Death in a Shallow Pond, which will be available to purchase on the night. This event takes place upstairs in the Nightingale Room, The Grand Central Pub, Brighton. Unfortunately there is no wheelchair access at this venue.

• DOORS OPEN: 7:00pm
• TALK STARTS: 7:30pm
• AUDIENCE Q&A: 8:30pm
• BOOK SIGNING: 9:00pm

Event Venue

The Grand Central, Brighton, 29-30 Surrey Street, Brighton and Hove, United Kingdom

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

Get App