Humans love to hate on rats. But why? Rats are terrific! Rats, both "wild" and "domestic," are intelligent (similar to or more than many dog breeds), and "pet" rats are sociable and loving companions. Yet, rats seem more despised than other critters. One of my parents complains about my companion rats, though they've never met. Friends have cringed when I pull out my phone to share pictures. Strangers seem incredulous or annoyed when I encourage them to quit using the term "infestation" … [Read more...]
Ethical rat companionship
CBC's The Current featured a panel discussion yesterday about the ethics of having pets. Although the panelists--Gary Francione (animal rights superstar), Jessica Pierce, and Stanley Coren mostly focused on dogs, rat companionship was raised. I have a few brief thoughts about providing a good home to rats, and about commodifying animals more generally. Commodifying animals Francione argues for an abolitionist position on pets (and animal use more generally). While he believes that humans have … [Read more...]
Puppies, pigs, and the polis: Feminist relational theory and animal ethics
I've written before about my admiration for and struggles with some of Donna Haraway's work in animal philosophy, and about how helpful I find relational theory. After working through When Species Meet, I decided to teach a philosophy seminar on how relational theory has informed animal ethics! The course revolves around When Species Meet and Sue Donaldson and Will Kymlicka's 2011 book, Zoopolis: A Political Theory of Animal Rights. Although these texts represent different philosophical … [Read more...]
Are tribbles trivial?
I’m disturbed by the trivial way in which tribbles are treated within the Star Trek universe. The Tribble Handbook describes these creatures as “the most fabulous furballs in the galaxy!” (p. 1). Further, Star Trek supposedly represents a futuristic society that has solved many of the ethical, social, and political challenges we face today. Despite these points, Star Trek’s treatment of tribbles tends to parallel contemporary problems with how we human animals conceptualize and treat … [Read more...]
Can Haraway’s vegan meet animals responsibly?
Recently I finished Donna Haraway's When Species Meet (University of Minnesota Press, 2008). This post isn't about how great the book is. It's really, really great. This post is about my frustration with Haraway's descriptions of veganism, specifically vegan views about abolitionism, or abolishing entirely our use of animals. Why I read this book Like many feminists, I think abstract, universal moral claims usually miss the mark. Except when it comes to animal ethics. On issues such as … [Read more...]