Death in a Shallow Pond

Audio only

Death in a Shallow Pond

A Philosopher, a Drowning Child, and Strangers in NeedBy David EdmondsNarrated by Zeb Soanes

Death in a Shallow Pond

Length7h 5m

About this audiobook

This audiobook narrated by Zeb Soanes offers a fascinating account of how Peter Singer's controversial "drowning child" thought experiment changed the way people think about charitable giving Imagine this: You're walking past a shallow pond and spot a toddler thrashing around in the water, in obvious danger of drowning. You look around for her parents, but nobody is there. You're the only person who can save her and you must act immediately. But as you approach the pond you remember that you're wearing your most expensive shoes. Wading into the water will ruin them—and might make you late for a meeting. Should you let the child drown? The philosopher Peter Singer published this thought experiment in 1972, arguing 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? In Death in a Shallow Pond, David Edmonds tells the remarkable story of Singer and his controversial idea, tracing how it radically changed the way many think about poverty—but also how it has provoked scathing criticisms. Death in a Shallow Pond describes the experiences and world events that led Singer to make his radical case and how it moved some young philosophers to establish the Effective Altruism movement, which tries to optimize philanthropy. The book also explores the reactions of critics who argue that the Shallow Pond and Effective Altruism are unrealistic, misguided, and counterproductive, neglecting the causes of—and therefore perpetuating—poverty. Ultimately, however, Edmonds argues that the Shallow Pond retains the power to shape how we live in a world in which terrible and unnecessary suffering persists.

Audiobook details

GenrePhilosophy

Length7 hrs 5 mins

Narrated byZeb Soanes

FormatAudiobook

Publish dateSep 23, 2025

LanguageEnglish

Table of contents

1Opening Credit

13Chapter 10 - Shallow Ponds in Deep Waters

2Introduction - Death and the Shallow Pond

14Chapter 11 - Moral Math, Play Pumps, and Microloans

3PART I - The Giving Philosophy

15Chapter 12 - Mrs. Jellyby and Groundhog Day

4Chapter 2 - Oxford - Philosophy Awakes

16Chapter 13 - The New White Man's Burden

5Chapter 3 - Vietnam - East Pakistan

17Chapter 14 - The Mega- Rich and the Pearly Gates

Show all chapters

6Chapter 4 - Bob's Bugatti

18Chapter 15 - Righting Past Wrongs

7Chapter 5 - From the Pond to the World

19Chapter 16 - Distance and Dignity

8Chapter 6 - Turning Point in the Grave

20Chapter 17 - The Harm You Do

9Chapter 7 - Growing Pains

21Chapter 18 - Rattling the Can

10Chapter 8 - Longtermism

22Chapter 19 - The Art of the Feel

11PART 2 - Charity and Its Discontents

23Postscript - Singer's Swan Song

12Chapter 9 - Laboratory in the Mind

24End Credit

About the author

David Edmonds

View all by David Edmonds

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