Biology, ethics, and animals

In the debate about animal rights, biologists may feel threatened by criticism of their use of animals. They may also feel that philosophical discussion of animals is so abstract as to be meaningless. Furthermore, some would claim that a proper understanding of sociobiological theory about the origin of human ethical systems should make us very sceptical of the usefulness of moral theorizing. In Biology, Ethics, and Animals Rosemary Rodd brings philosophy and biology together to address this set of attitudes, and to illuminate the problem of what we can and should do to reform the way we treat other animals. She justifies ethical concern within a framework which is firmly based on evolutionary theory, and provides detailed discussion of practical situations in which ethical decisions have to be made. She seeks to foster communication rather than confrontation by writing in a style which looks for solutions to problems, rather than the attribution of blame.

• 1. Biology and values
• 2. On the diversity of life
• 3. The new cartesians
• 4. Animal communication?
• 5. Animals as part of the environment
• 6. Killing animals
• 7. Conflicting interests
• 8. Beasts, saints, and heroes
• 9. Are humans moral? The problem of sociobiology
• 10. The status of animals

In the debate about animal rights, biologists may feel threatened by criticism of their use of animals. They may also feel that philosophical discussion of animals is so abstract as to be meaningless. Furthermore, some would claim that a proper understanding of sociobiological theory about the origin of human ethical systems should make us very sceptical of the usefulness of moral theorizing. In "Biology, Ethics, and Animals" Rosemary Rodd brings philosophy and biology together to address this set of attitudes, and to illuminate the problem of what we can and should do to reform the way we treat other animals. She justifies ethical concern within a framework which is firmly based on evolutionary theory, and provides detailed discussion of practical situations in which ethical decisions have to be made. She seeks to foster communication rather than confrontation by writing in a style which looks for solutions to problems, rather than the attribution of blame.

• Biology and values
• on the diversity of life
• the new cartesians
• animal communication?
• animals as part of the environment
• killing animals
• conflicting interests
• beasts, saints and heroes
• are humans moral? - the problem of sociobiology
• the status of animals.