The Philosophy of Animal Rights: An Introduction to Animal Ethics Theory

Animal Rights is the philosophy which advocates for the abolition of animal exploitation.  What is the moral basis of this philosophy?  What do the major philosophers of animal rights say?  What are the major points of contention within the debate?  Is there any overall consensus on any of these issues?

In this course we will read and discuss a wide variety of academic and popular philosophical literature on animal rights. We will cover issues such as the traditional western views of animals, contemporary academic debates, analysis of key and influential arguments, the concept of speciesism, the relationship between animal rights and feminism, the intersection of animal rights and environmental ethics, and the potential for connections between animal rights and other social justice struggles.

All are welcome.  There is outside reading in this class.  Feel free to contact the facilitator if you have any questions.