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- Description
About this Course
About the Course
In this course Dr Angie Pepper (University of Roehampton) examines issues of life and death involving non-human animals. In this course we look at both the normative theories that govern our perspectives on the treatment of non-human animals, and apply these theories to a range of practices involving human use of non-human animals. In the first module, we look at the ways in which the utilitarian views the treatment of non-human animals. Then we examine natural law theory, and look at some responses to Aquinas’ views from contemporary animal rights theorists. In the third module, we look at virtue ethics and situation ethics, and the emphasis that both theories place on the moral character of the decision. In the fourth module, we come to applied issues, looking firstly at animals which are harmed for human entertainment. We then examine how ethicists might respond to eating animals, with special reference to the effects of the industry behind meat consumption. Finally, we consider whether it is ethical to harm non-human animals in order to save sick and diseased humans.
About the Lecturer
Dr Angie Pepper is a lecturer in Practical Philosophy, Theology, and Religion at the University of Roehampton. Her research interests are in animal ethics and global justice. Her recent publications include Is Animal Labour a Viable Route to Interspecies Justice? (2022), and Covid-19 and the Future of Zoos (2021)