Final Review

FROM THE FIRST UNIT OF THE COURSE
►Explain the SEVEN distinct, but overlapping, concepts of person. identified by A. O. Rorty in "Persons and Personae" (Ch. 36 of Stephens, The Person).

1. Identify the various types of diet (dietary restrictions) canvassed by the editor.
2. How does the editor characterize the debate over eating meat?

1. State Collura's thesis.
2. Briefly explain Collura's argument for this thesis.

1. What health benefits of vegetarianism do the authors report?
2. What are good sources of protein for vegetarians?
3. What is cyanobalamin and why is it needed for good health? Where can vegetarians get this vitamin?
4. What are good sources of iron for vegetarians?

1. Which groups of people who are vegans are at nutritional risk, according to the authors?
2. What recommendations do the authors make for these at-risk vegans?
3. Which groups of vegans do the authors not think are at any serious nutritional risk?

1. What is an enthymeme?
2. Present the Basic Argument. Evaluate it.
3. Which theory about the nature of ethics is the Basic Argument tied to?
4. Does Rachels see opposing cruelty as a liberal cause or a conservative cause?
5. Contrast how defenders of animal rights and many scientists see the differences between humans and nanimals.
6. What does Rachels think is the only relevant part of scientists' ongoing research on animals for the basic argument?
7. What are nocioceptors? How are they relevant to the basic argument?

1. What is Niman's occupation?
2. What is her thesis?
3. Briefly explain her argument for her thesis.

Mulhall, “The Education of a Blade Runner”

1. What does Mulhall say is the goal of the film Blade Runner?
2. According to Mulhall, what view of the relationship between the human mind or soul and the human body is expressed in the film?
3. How does Mulhall think we go about attributing minds to given individuals?
4. What does Mulhall say is director Ridley Scott's take on refusing to acknowledge another’s humanity?
5. What does Mulhall think shadows every moment of human life?
6. Briefly explain Tyrell's view of all human experience, according to Mulhall.
7. Explain Mulhall's analysis of the authenticity of human life. What view does he attribute to Nietzsche?
8. Explain Mulhall's analysis of Roy's pursuit of Deckard. Contrast Roy's attitude about and understanding of the chase with those of Deckard.
9. Briefly explain Mulhall's comparison of Deckard with a film director. What can the camera’s gaze do?
10. What does Mulhall say about Deckard's use of his pistol?

Singer, "Animal Liberation: Vegetarianism as Protest"

1. What ethical principle does Singer borrow from Jeremy Bentham?
2. How does Singer contrast a concern for the well-being of American children with a concern for the well-being of pigs?
3. How does Singer relate the "logic" of racism, sexism, and speciesism? State Singer's definition of speciesism.
4. What does Singer say about the more intelligent exploiting the less intelligent?
5. How does he contrast a mouse with a stone?
6. According to Singer, approximately how many cows, pigs, and sheep are raised and slaughtered in the U.S. each year?
7. According to Singer, approximately how many birds are raised and slaughtered in the U.S. each year?
8. According to Singer, how old are broiler chickens when they are killed (and processed)? What is their natural lifespan?
9. What "vices" are chickens prone to when kept in overcrowded conditions? How do farmers eliminate these "vices"?
10. What "vices" are pits prone to when kept in overcrowded conditions? How do farmers eliminate these "vices"?
11. What does Singer say nanimals are means to?
12. What practices does Singer say traditional farming involves? What intensive methods are used in animal factories?
13. Present The Argument for Boycotting Cruel Products.
14. What is the contrapositive of "If you want to live a less cruel life, then you will boycott products of animal factories"?

Web movies: The Meatrix I, II, and II½

1. Describe in detail how factory farms process animals and produce meat, eggs, and dairy products.

"Time in the Animal Mind," New York Times (April 3, 2007)

1. Describe the recent studies on memory and planning for the future in specific animals reported in this story.

Sapontzis, "Saving the Rabbit from the Fox," Morals, Reasons, and Animals

1. What is the FORM of a reductio ad absurdum argument?
2. Present the Predation Reductio (A1 through A5). Why is this argument important?
3. What three strategies does Sapontzis employ to address this Predation Reductio?
4. Explain Sapontzis' analysis of a young child tormenting a cat.
5. What does he say about "letting nature take its course"?
6. Briefly explain the LIBERTARIAN view of negative and positive duties. How widely accepted is this normative theory?
7. Briefly explain the CONTRACTARIAN view of ethics. How widely accepted is this normative theory?
8. What does Sapontzis think is required of a practical moral ideal?
9. What specific act does Sapontzis recommend for alleviating avoidable, unnecessary suffering caused by predation?
10. In which situations does Sapontzis say we routinely interfere with nature?
11. State the three common moral goals identified by Sapontzis.
12. What kind of science does Sapontzis insist ethics is?
13. What does “ought implies can” mean in ethics? Explain Sapontzis' analysis of this key idea.
14. Clearly explain the SIX varieties of ABSURDITY identified by Sapontzis.
15. Why does Sapontzis reformulate A3 as A3΄? State A3΄.
16. Present Sapontzis' concluding argument (D1 through D3).
17. What does Sapontzis suggest that, for the foreseeable future, animal rights activists ought to direct their organized efforts on behalf of animals toward?

Adams, "The Sexual Politics of Meat"

1. Explain the historical, cultural, culinary, anthropological, societal, and mythological evidence Adams presents in support of her main argument.
2. State Adams' central thesis. What does she mean by saying that "Meat is king"?
3. Briefly describe Adams' argument about the race and class politics of meat.
4. What does Adams say that "meat" connotes? What does she say that "vegetable" connotes? What does Hegel say men and women correspond to?
5. How do meat-based and plant-based economies tend to differ, according to Adams?

Everett, "Vegetarianism, Predation, and Respect for Nature"

1. What is Everett's thesis? Present her Eco-Vegetarian's Mature Love of Predation Argument.
2. Explain the three reasons she gives to support her claim that modern meat production is "ecologically reprehensible."
3. Present Hettinger's Omnivorous Ancestors Argument (HOAA).
4. Explain Everett's criticisms of HOAA.
5. Present Hettinger's Natural Processes Argument (HNPA). Is it valid in form?
6. Explain Everett's criticisms of HNPA. Which premise does Everett deny?

Kheel, "Vegetarianism and Ecofeminism: Toppling Patriarchy with a Fork"

1. What is Kheel's thesis? What is her view of the role of empathy in her essay?
2. Briefly explain the basic idea of Ecofeminism.
3. List the pair of gendered DUALISMS which Kheel says patriarchal society operates with.
4. Explain at length the evidence Kheel presents to support her thesis.

Rachels, Introduction and Chapter 4, Created from Animals: The Moral Implications of Darwinism

1. Explain the moral implications of Darwin's theory of evolution, according to Rachels.
2. What are the main points Rachels makes in his Introduction?
Chapter Four
3. Briefly describe two different conceptions of reason articulated by Rachels. Which type of reason do humans have? Which type do some Nanimals exhibit?
4. Briefly explain now natural selection works.
5. Briefly explain what Behaviorism is.
6. What are tropisms? Briefly explain.
7. Briefly explain what kin altruism is. Which Nanimals display it? Give examples.
8. Briefly explain what reciprocal altruism is? Which Nanimals display it? Give examples.
9. Briefly explain what general altruism is. Give examples.
10. Briefly explain Darwin's concept of conscience.
11. What does Rachels say is the thesis of his book? (p. 171)