Ronald F. White, Ph.D.

Professor of Philosophy

College of Mount St. Joseph

Introduction

• Factory Farming

• Animal Experimentation

• Xenografts

• Zoos

• Pets

Issues

Anthropocentrism• Anthropocentrism- (Human-Centered )

– Judeo-Christian • Doctrine of Special Creation

– Aristotelian• Human, Animal, Vegetative Souls

– Enlightenment• Descartes-Automaton Theory• Kant-

– Persons-Direct Duties– Property-Indirect Duties

Non-Anthropocentrism• Non-Anthropocentrism (Extentionism)

– Religious Based (Buddhism)– Evolutionary Biology– Neuroscience – Modern Personhood Theories

• Consciousness• Sentience• Self-Awareness• Intelligence

– Peter Singer• Mammals and Sentience• Speciesism

Small Group Discussion

• Are some species of animals worthy of moral consideration? If so, which species and why?

• Discuss anthropocentric and non-anthropocentric arguments for and against the following:– Factory Farming– Animal Experimentation– Xenografts– Zoos– Pets

• Is zealous advocacy in defense of animals morally justified? • PETA• Are there moral limits to the tactics employed? (Do the ends justify

the means?)