Animal Ethics

Co-conveners:

Susan Kopp, DVM, Professor, Veterinary Technology Program, LaGuardia Community College (CUNY)

Joel Marks, Professor Emeritus, Philosophy, University of New Haven

The Animal Ethics group at the Yale Bioethics Center was formed in response to two phenomena: the moral imperative to reassess the human treatment of other animals, and the theoretical challenge to give nonhuman animals their due in ethics. While many people have passionate opinions about animal ethics, they can be diametrically opposed: from seeing nonhuman animals as strictly subservient to human purposes, to conceptualizing them as full rights-bearing members of the moral community. Our group is dedicated to addressing the gamut of questions from all points of view. We meet monthly with special presenters, who are drawn from the same broad interdisciplinary spectrum as the group members themselves.  Please note that the group sponsors two activities: a research seminar for faculty and allied professionals, and a public lecture series. Seminar participation is by invitation of the Center director; lectures are open to everyone. Inquiries about either may be sent to bioethics.center@yale.edu.

Below is our list of speakers and their topics for the academic year 2012-2013:

SEPTEMBER 27  Clare Palmer, Professor of Philosophy, Texas A&M University

Seminar topic: Wild Animals, Ethics and Climate Change
Talk topic: Ethics, Conservation, and Animal Welfare:  Wildlife and Outdoor Cats

OCTOBER 18 Anne Vallely, Associate Professor, Department of Classics and Religious Studies, University of Ottawa

Seminar topic: Being Sentiently with Others: Humans and Nonhumans in Jainism
Talk topic: The Ambivalent Animal: Compassion, Passion, & the Good Death in Jainism

NOVEMBER 29 Alexandra Horowitz, Principal Investigator, Dog Cognition Lab, and Term Assistant Professor, Barnard College, Columbia University

Seminar topic: Attributions to Animals
Talk topic: (Mis)understanding Dogs

JANUARY 24 Ralph R. Acampora, Associate Professor of Philosophy, Hofstra University

Seminar topic: Extinction by Exhibition: Zoos as Pornography
Talk topic: Creating Conviviality with Other Creatures: Artful and Ethical Designs for Animal Encounter

 

FEBRUARY 28  Lila Miller, DVM,Vice President for Veterinary Outreach, ASPCA

Seminar topic: A Veterinarian's Perspective on Animal Cruelty and Abuse: Legal and ethical issues
Talk topic: The Link between Animal Abuse and Human Violence

 

APRIL 4  John Rossi, V.M.D., M.Bioethics, Assistant Professor and Associate Director, Program for the Study of Public Health Ethics and History Drexel University School of Public Health

Seminar topic: Ethical Issues in the Pedigree Breeding of Companion Animals
Talk topic: How Should We Eat? Food choices and our obligations to the public's health (4:15 PM at 309 Edwards Street, conference room)

Speakers and topics from previous years:

2011-2012
2010-2011
2009-2010
2008-2009

Spring 2008