Magnus Vinding has 5 audiobooks on Listento.it, narrated by 5 narrators. The most-rated is In Defense of Nuance.
You Are Them
Summary
What follows if we reject belief in any kind of non-physical soul and instead fully embrace what we know about the world? The main implication, this book argues, is a naturalization of personal identity and ethics. A radically different way of thinking about ourself.
“A precondition of rational behavior is a basic understanding of the nature of oneself and the world. Any fusion of ethical and decision-theoretic rationality into a seamless package runs counter to some of our deepest intuitions. But You Are Them makes a powerful case. Magnus Vinding's best book to date. Highly recommended.” (David Pearce, co-founder of the Neuroethics Foundation, co-founder of World Transhumanist Association / Humanity, and author of The Hedonistic Imperative and The Anti-Speciesist Revolution.)
©2017 Magnus Vinding (P)2019 Magnus Vinding
Compassionate Free Speech
Summary
Two loose currents appear to be in opposition in today's culture. One is animated by a strong insistence on empathy and compassion as core values, the other by a strong insistence on free speech as a core value. These two currents are often portrayed as though they must necessarily be in conflict. Compassionate Free Speech makes the case that this is a mistake. While ethical principles of compassion and free speech can be in tension, it is possible to reconcile them in a refined synthesis that allows us to chart a balanced middle path of a free and compassionate society. "Magnus Vinding argues both that people should not be subjected to social punishment for honest expression of their views and that we must work much harder to practice compassion, fairness, generosity, openness, and truthfulness in our own speech. He shows how social media pressures all of us to spread ignorance and rancor, and he proposes a wise set of norms to guide our online interactions. This is a deeply argued and richly insightful discussion that sheds new light on a vexing subject." (Jamie Mayerfeld, professor of political science at the University of Washington, author of Suffering and Moral Responsibility and The Promise of Human Rights)
©2020 Magnus Vinding (P)2020 Magnus Vinding
Effective Altruism: How Can We Best Help Others?
Summary
This audiobook is part introduction to, part reflective examination of the idea and ideal of effective altruism. Its aim is to examine the core question of effective altruism: How can we best help others? It's a question that in turn forces us to contemplate what helping others, effectively or otherwise, really entails. Here, the audiobook argues that the greatest help we can provide is to reduce extreme suffering for all sentient beings and then goes on to provide some suggestions for how this might best be done.
©2018 Magnus Vinding (P)2019 Magnus Vinding
Speciesism
Summary
The aim of this book is to examine our speciesism. This examination consists of two separate parts, where the first part shows why speciesism is unjustifiable, and hence why it must be rejected, while the second part examines the practical implications of this rejection. This latter examination is bound to be far from exhaustive, yet by merely pointing out the most basic and most important implications of the rejection of speciesism, we see more than a few ways in which our behavior and attitudes should change, and change profoundly.
"Humans hurt, harm, and kill billions of sentient beings. We routinely treat nonhuman animals in ways that would earn the perpetrators a life sentence in prison if the victims were humans of comparable sentience. Speciesism: Why it Is Wrong and The Implications of Rejecting It makes disturbing listening. Magnus Vinding makes a compelling case for a moral revolution in human behavior toward nonhuman individuals. Highly recommended." (David Pearce, co-founder of world transhumanist association and author of The Hedonistic Imperative)
"Most people agree that discriminating against someone on the basis of gender, sex, or skin color is morally objectionable, but what about species membership? Speciesism: Why it Is Wrong and The Implications of Rejecting It makes a compelling case that this form of discrimination has no justification either, and addresses the most significant implications. These include both the rejection of animal exploitation and the rejection of the idea that we have no reason to help nonhuman animals in need of aid, including when they are suffering in the wild for natural reasons. This book is likely to challenge many of our assumptions, and will encourage us to think deeper about the moral consideration of nonhuman animals." (Oscar Horta, professor of moral philosophy at University of Santiago de Compostela, co-founder of animal ethics, author of Un paso adelante en defensa de los animales)
©2015 Magnus Vinding (P)2019 Magnus Vinding
In Defense of Nuance
Summary
We appear to find ourselves in a crisis of polarization and failed communication. What can we do about it? This essay argues that part of the solution may be that we all make a deliberate effort to follow certain virtues that are quite straightforward, if difficult to practice. Simply put, we should strive to be charitable toward our adversaries, and aspire for more nuanced and balanced perspectives. This is not just important for addressing our current social predicament, but also for the endeavor of reason in general. To acquire a view of the world that reflects its true complexity, we must aspire for nuance, which tends to be best done by engaging charitably with many different perspectives. The essay then turns to some contentious issues, such as sex discrimination, intersectionality, political correctness, relationship styles, and politics to point toward some ways in which greater nuance might help inform and advance our views on these matters.
©2018 Magnus Vinding (P)2019 Magnus Vinding