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EDITED BY GREG CALLAGHAN

Q10

Peter Singer, PHILOSOPHER, 63

Studies now show that the so-called “human” qualities of compassion and altruism are present in dolphins, chimps and gorillas. What does this tell us?

It tells us what Darwin already noticed — that it is not only in our anatomy, but also in our emotional and mental lives, that we are on a continuum with the other animals. It also tells us that our ethics need to change. Now only human beings can have basic rights, or the moral status of a person. All animals are just “things” — at law, items of property. That needs to change. We should not disregard or discount the interests of another sentient being just because it is not a member of our species.

Do you think zoos play any role in preserving endangered species and educating the public?

The best zoos do play a role in educating the public about the importance of conservation, but it is always a mixed message because at the same time they tell the public that it is okay to keep animals in captivity so that we can enjoy looking at them. Zoos need to put the interests of the animals first, and that of the spectators second. Otherwise, even if they do occasionally preserve an endangered species, what is the point of preserving animals if they are having miserable lives?

Danish cartoonist Kurt Westergaard, who five years ago inflamed hard-line Muslims with cartoons they considered blasphemous, still lives in fear of his life; there was an attempt on his life last month. Is it becoming harder to criticise religion?

Yes, it is becoming more dangerous, especially if you are criticising Islam. But fundamentalist Christians in the US are also a problem, of course. We need brave people who are prepared to stand up to the threats, because if we are to solve the problems that face us, we need to take an open-minded, evidence-based attitude to the world.

Why do human beings have such a fervent need to believe in God?

Richard Dawkins has suggested that during much of our evolutionary history, groups of people who believed in a god or gods may have had an evolutionary advantage, in that individuals were more ready to make sacrifices for the group as a whole. That could explain why we have a widespread propensity to believe in a being that none of us has seen. Of course it could just be that it is comforting to think that, even though our bodies die, we will somehow live on. It’s a kind of nice fairytale that adults tell each other.

Many people say that life would be meaningless without a god. What do you say to them?

I have no problem finding meaning in what I do. What could be more fulfilling and meaningful than trying to reduce the amount of unnecessary suffering in the world, and make the world a better place? The more I think about it, the more discomforting I find the idea of believing that this world, with all the suffering and misery experienced by both humans and non-human animals, was created by an omniscient, omnipotent being. How could one love a being who could stop all that suffering — or never have allowed it to start — and yet knowingly allows it to continue?

What role do you think philosophers have in the world today?

Philosophers are now contributing to raising the standard of public discussion on a huge range of ethical questions — making that discussion more probing, questioning assumptions, and putting forward new ideas for consideration. That’s a very important role.

Most major religions emphasise the connection between family values and their religion. Is this valid?

Religions tend to reinforce the value of the family, but our love for our children is something we get from our biology anyway. We are mammals, and we need to care for our young for many years before they can fend for themselves. The values don’t themselves come from religion.

Osama bin Laden urges followers to prepare for a drawn-out conflict with the West and Christianity. Isn’t it more a conflict with modernism?

There are several strands to this conflict. But one interesting aspect of it is that it undermines the claim that we should always respect religious faith. The faith of the terrorists who were prepared to die to bring down the World Trade Centre must have been very strong. That doesn’t make it a good thing. The lesson should be that we have to move beyond faith in order to discuss whether a belief is right or wrong.

What do you think are the three biggest mysteries of the universe?

Some things that many people consider unknowable I believe we do already understand quite well — for example, that the universe was not created by a divine being, and that there is no survival after death. Of course, I admit that I could be wrong about these things, but I think it very unlikely. So what does that leave? I’d love to know if there is intelligent life elsewhere in the universe. If there is, I’d like to know if the other intelligent beings have conceptions of reason and of ethics that are similar to ours.

What would be your advice to a young Peter Singer today?

Set your sights high. Try to make a difference to the world. It’s the most fulfilling way to live.

Peter Singer is a speaker at the “The Rise of Atheism” — the 2010 Global Atheist Convention — next weekend at the Melbourne convention and exhibition centre.