LAW 7072

Animal Rights

Course Description

Course information provided by the Courses of Study 2020-2021.

This seminar examines the moral assumptions underlying the legal status of human use of non-human animals.  State and federal law treat animals primarily as property, sometimes modified to take account of animals' subjective experience.  We will study a variety of legal and philosophical writings that address the legal and moral status of animals, including the debate between supporters of an "animal welfare" approach that aspires to a reduction in animal suffering, and supporters of an "animal rights" approach that aims to abolish the use of animals.  Among the questions the seminar poses are:  What capacities, if any, warrant shielding animals from various forms of exploitation?  Do animals have interests in continued existence or merely in avoiding suffering?  Might some but not other human uses of animals be justified, and if so, which ones?  The use of animal products (such as milk and eggs) for food?  The use of animals for clothing?   

When Offered Fall or Spring.

Satisfies Requirement Satisfies the writing requirement.

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