Blind Quote by Peter Singer
“Were we incapable of empathy – of putting ourselves in the position of others and seeing that their suffering is like our own – then ethical reasoning would lead nowhere. If emotion without reason is blind, then reason without emotion is impotent.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Practical Ethics, Peter Singer, 1979
Empathy and reason must work together; without feeling, ethics is cold, and without logic, feelings are blind.
In simple terms: Both empathy and reason are needed for ethics.
Key Takeaway
Balance feeling with thinking.
Themes
ethics
empathy
reason
Mood
thoughtful
serious
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- conflict resolution
- policy making
- personal dilemmas
Key Concepts
moral philosophy
human nature
cognitive balance
Questions to Reflect On
- Can you think of a time when emotion guided a rational decision?
- How do you balance empathy and logic?
A Different Perspective
Pure rationality can ignore suffering.
![“Nineteen thousand children [are] dying every day. Does it really matter that we're not walking past them in the street? Does it really matter that they're far away? I don't think it does make a morally relevant difference.” quote by Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/cc1/peter-singer-1001_children_nineteen-thousand-children-are-dying-eve_33961.jpg)
