A short and compact introduction to the moral circle and the possibility of its expansion, this slim volume presents its arguments swiftly and elegantly. Using examples adapted from various thought experiments and philosophical writings, some familiar, some not, The Moral Circle steers the reader towards the accuracy of its arguments without grandstanding or begging the question.

However, not all of its conclusions (and as hard as Jeff Sebo tries to avoid coming down too hard in any one direction, there are conclusions drawn) will convince most readers. The sections dedicated to the possible future moral weight of AI systems especially may not ring true, given the current failure of artificial ‘intelligence’ to even approach sentience, and its occasional “Roko’s Basilisk”-style what-ifs weaken the book as a whole. Sebo is on much stronger ground when discussing how other animals and insects are treated, used, and exploited by humans in the here and now. Blurb copy refers to its case studies as ‘provocative’; this suggests an outlandishness Sebo is uninterested in. It’s the distillation of some years of work. His sober, serious, and careful examinations loop round and back to bolster the original thesis: we should be treating far more creatures with far more respect than we currently do. This book is unlikely to start a revolution or even change many minds, but it’s certainly given me a lot to think about.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.