Ethics and non-human animals 3800-EZP23-S-BE

Ethical reflection on the relationship between man and non-human animals dates back to the beginnings of philosophy. For centuries, however, these considerations were located on its distant periphery. Today, animal ethics covers a whole spectrum of issues, and the term itself is understood broadly, going beyond the branch of ethics focused on the study of human-animal relations.

The primary goal of the course is to provide students with theoretical knowledge as well as conceptual and methodological tools necessary to understand and critically analyze issues in the field of animal ethics. The second goal is to develop analytical and argumentative skills necessary to solve ethical problems related to the relationship between man and non-human animals.

The course covers following topics:

I THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
1. Historical theories of the moral status of animals
2. Contemporary theories of the moral status of animals – p. 1.: utilitarianism of 20&21st century
3. Contemporary theories of the moral status of animals – p. 2.: rights theories and abolitionism
4. Contemporary theories of the moral status of animals – p. 3.: feminist theories
5. Contemporary theories of the moral status of animals – p. 4.: against the moral significance of animals
6. Awareness, self-awareness and autonomy of animals – p. 1.: biology, cognitive ethology, cognitive science
7. Awareness, self-awareness and autonomy of animals – p. 2.: empiricism and theory

II DEMOCRACY AND THE CASE FOR ANIMALS
8. Animal rights vs animal welfare
9. Animal rights movement and animal activism as a social justice movement
10. Interspecies political theory?

III PRACTICES AGAINST ANIMALS
11. Ethical aspects of animal domestication
12. Ethical aspects of veterinary medicine
13. Ethical aspects of using animals in the food industry
14. Ethical aspects of using animals in the clothing industry
15. Ethical aspects of using animals in the entertainment industry