Philosophy and Animals

Catalog description

In this course, we investigate the moral justification(s) of differential treatment between human and non-human animals (or the lack thereof). We first survey various animal ethics theories and theories of animal cognition. We then investigate the ethical implications of such theories regarding our treatment of nonhuman animals in various current practices and policies, including some of the following: eating habits, scientific experimentation, animal captivity (zoos and aquariums), as well as hunting/fishing and other human practices regarding wildlife. Finally, we investigate issues of intersectionality between race, gender, and nonhuman animals. Co-convenes with PHL 548 . Level: Undergraduate