PHIL H340 Animal Ethics
This class will be a philosophical examination of our moral obligations to animals. We will explore the ethics of various human practices towards animals, such as animal agriculture, hunting, medical research on animals, zoos, and keeping animals as pets. To address these issues, we will also ask more theoretical questions about the moral status and mental lives of animals. Are animals the sorts of beings that can possess rights? Does animal suffering matter less than human suffering? To what extent are animals conscious? Can animals be harmed by death? We may also consider the moral status of animals from environmentalist and feminist perspectives.