Animal Ethics
| Module title | Animal Ethics |
|---|---|
| Module code | ANTM111 |
| Academic year | 2023/4 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Dr Alexander Badman-King (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 30 |
|---|
Module description
This module introduces students to the many ethical questions associated with human interaction with non-human living beings and things. The module will begin with a general introduction to ethics and its relationship with philosophy, incorporating perspectives from cognate disciplines (including anthropology) in such a way that both those with an existing knowledge of philosophy and those from unrelated backgrounds will gain a philosophical as well as interdisciplinary grounding. The module will have at its core the question of non-human animal personhood, what it might mean and what the consequences are of recognising other animals as persons. How should we understand the minds of other animals? Is it possible to consider personhood in other living things, such as plants? How are perceptions of nonhuman others formed and how do they inform subsequent actions and interactions with them?
THIS IS A DISTANCE LEARNING MODULE.
There are no pre-requisites for the module and it is recommended for interdisciplinary pathways.
Module aims - intentions of the module
This module aims to introduce students to the ethics of non-human life. By covering key topics in ethics and philosophical argumentation the module seeks to grant students from any background an understanding of how philosophical approaches can be applied to the problems associated with human interactions with other living things. The module aims to give students a good general knowledge in animal ethics and also the conceptual limits which define this field (what is an animal?). Through this module you will gain an understanding of the range of ethical problems which our life with non-human organisms gives rise to and to the possible responses which have been and might be offered to these problems. This module aims particularly at ensuring you will gain a good understanding of the concepts of sentience and personhood and how these might be employed in our thinking about non-human life.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the ethical questions associated with human interactions with non-human organisms.
- 2. Analyse critically issues relating to personhood and sentience.
- 3. Articulate clearly stances for and against potential positions in animal ethics.
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 4. Articulate, in written form, valid ethical arguments.
- 5. Demonstrate a clear understanding of systematic analysis and philosophical problem solving.
- 6. Demonstrate an understanding of the breadth of philosophical debate and the place of ethics within philosophy and its relationship with other academic disciplines.
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 7. Communicate effectively (orally and in writing) valid arguments.
- 8. Engage calmly and effectively in debate concerning highly sensitive topics.
- 9. Evaluate effectively an opposing stance when assessing the value of arguments.
Syllabus plan
Whilst the precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover all or some of the following topics:
- Reading and Writing Philosophy and Ethics
- The Metaethical Triumvirate: Utilitarianism, Deontology and Virtue Ethics. Exploring the classic theories in ethics (and a realist’s disclaimer).
- Non-Human Life and Philosophy: a history of animals and other living things in philosophical discourse.
- Souls 1: Philosophy of Mind, Rationality, Language and Human Exceptionalism: Are humans different to other animals and why might that matter?
- Utilitarianism and Singer: Are pleasure and pain the things which matter?
- Animal Liberation and Kantian Means to Ends: Understanding intrinsic and instrumental value and how using animals fits in.
- Vegetarianism and Veganism: What justification is there for or against these ‘lifestyles’?
- Souls 2: Sentience, Interests and the Boundaries of Personhood: Discussing the possible problems with the concept of sentience and where we should draw the boundaries of personhood.
- The Peculiar Weight of Death and Killing: To whom is death harmful? Is it particularly harmful? How and why?
- Wisdom and Moral Pluralism: Do we need to stick to one of these ethical theories? Are our lives with animals important for us being good people?
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 42 | 108 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities | 10 | 10 x 1 hour podcast audio lectures with accompanying powerpoint presentations |
| Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities | 10 | 10 x 1 hour discussion/seminar participations |
| Guided Independent Study | 10 | 10 x 1 hours participating in the discussion forums |
| Guided Independent Study | 88 | Research and writing of summative assessments |
| Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities | 20 | 10 x 2 hours participating in the VLE discussion forums (formative assessments) |
| Guided Independent Study | 100 | Research and writing of summative assessments |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 250 word email | 1, 3-9 (and 2 if topic relates to sentience) | Written feedback from module tutor via email |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 65 | 2,000 words | 1-9 | Written feedback |
| Portfolio of responses to each lecture topic. Within the portfolio, students will be required to write a question which arises from each lecture topic and offer an argument for or against an answer to that question within the space of 150 words. | 35 | 10 x 150 words (1,500 words) | 1-9 | Written feedback |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | Essay (2500 words) | 1-9 | August/September reassessment period |
| Portfolio of short written responses to each of the lecture topics. | Portfolio of short written responses to each of the lecture topics (1,500 words) | 1-9 | August/September reassessment period |
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Carruthers, P. 1989, ‘Brute Experience’, The Journal of Philosophy, Vol. 86, No. 5. May, pp. 258-269
Cochrane, A. 2012, Animal Rights Without Liberation, New York, NY: Columbia University Press
Dennet, D. 2017, From Bacteria to Bach and Back, St Ives: Allen Lane
Fox, M. A. 1986, The Case for Animal Experimentation, Berkeley, University of California Press
Gaita, R. 2003, The Philosopher’s Dog, London: Routledge
Nagel, T. 1987, What Does it All Mean?, Oxford: Oxford University Press
Osborne, C. 2007, Dumb Beasts and Dead Philosophers, Oxford: Oxford University Press
Regan, T. 1985, ‘The Case for Animal Rights’ in Singer, P. In Defense of Animals, Oxford: Blackwell
Rowlands, M. 2012, Can Animals be Moral?, Oxford: Oxford University Press
Singer, P. 1994, Practical Ethics, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
______. 1990 (1975), Animal Liberation, New York, NY: Random House
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
Online journals and ebooks including Oxford Handbook of Animal Ethics, Journal of Animal Ethics, Journal of Agricultural & Environmental Ethics, Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science.
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.5 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 7 |
| Available as distance learning? | Yes |
| Origin date | 24/09/2019 |
| Last revision date | 22/03/2022 |
