Animal Ethics

What is the appropriate ethical relationship between humans and other animals? This course is a systematic study of animal ethics, a field that has emerged as a response to the profound impact of human practices on other species and rising concern about animal use and treatment. Topics may include livestock agriculture, hunting, animal experimentation, biodiversity and invasive species, companion animals, vegetarianism and veganism, animals in entertainment, zoos and aquariums, activist ethics, animal rights, animals and biotechnology, and animal cognition.  The perspectives we will explore have a significant bearing on how we understand ourselves and nature and what policies we will endorse in relation to other animals.