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...]
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...]