Papers
- Revised plan due tonight
- Paper due 11/20
- Make sure you read instructions
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Module 5: Wild animals
- Do we have a duty to assist wild animals? (Nov 13, 15, 18, 20-debate)
- Today: one-off assistance, animals in special situations
- Friday: wild animal suffering, systemic assistance
- What matters more, wild species or wild individuals? (Nov 22)
- Wild animals in captivity -- zoos and aquariums (Dec 2, 4)
- Hunting wild animals (Dec 6)
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Clare Palmer, "Should we offer assistance to both wild and domesticated animals?"
Terminology: (a) domesticated (b) wild
Palmer's position
A, B, C: we should offer assistance, required
D: not required and not wrong, optional
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Palmer's argument--
Capacity-based ethics (or individualistic)
- What are the individual animal's capacities, interests, rights?
- Should usually treat similar individuals alike
- Peter Singer: we have an obligation to assist in A, B, C and D (if possible)--forward-looking, should maximize future good
- Tom Regan: same? Not quite, because he mainly postulates negative rights--right to be left alone. So we'll focus on Singer.
Context-based ethics -- BETTER!
- What are the individual animal's capacities, interests, rights?
- Must also ask: What is the context--our history and relations with the animal? Are we responsible?
- Palmer: A, B, C -- we should assist because we are responsible; D -- optional (not required, not wrong), because we are not responsible.
- D&K add: in D situations one-off assistance ok, but not widespread assistance; must respect "wild sovereignty"
Apply to pufflings situation
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| A capacity approach (e.g. Singer) says.... A context approach (e.g. Palmer) says... |
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Some D scenarios--wild animals in trouble, not because of humans
Bald Eagles in Dallas
Leopard infanticide in the Okavanga Delta, Botswana
- Xudum is the mother
- Musweu is the male intruder
- Film-makers are Brad and Tristan
- Watch 16-18:30 & 26:05-35