Fall 2010

Animal Rights, Animal Minds - LPHI 3114 A

Professor(s):  Zed Adams 
Day(s):  TR
Time(s):  2:00 pm - 3:40 pm 
CRN:  6781
Credits:  4
Prerequisite(s): 

Course Description
We interact with animals all the time--whether as pets, pests, or lunch--but we rarely take the time to reflect upon the nature of these interactions. Do our responsibilities towards sick pets have the same basis as our responsibilities towards sick humans? Are we justified in exterminating pests, even if our means of extermination involves a slow painful death? When birds alert each other of danger, or squirrels find their way into a bird feeder, are they doing the same sorts of things we do when we communicate with each other or solve problems? This course is a rigorous introduction to the philosophical issues underlying these questions. As we shall see, how we answer questions about our ethical responsibilities to animals depends heavily upon how we answer questions about the nature of animal minds. The goal of this course is to acquaint students with the relevant empirical and conceptual resources that they need to think profitably about what *is* going on in our interactions with animals, as well as what *should* be going on.