HRS 318: Sources and Methods: Animals, Persons, and Ethics

 

Prof. Stephens           Spring 2010        Tues. Thurs. 3:30 – 4:45 pm           D. H. Humanities Center 212

 

office hours:  and by appointment

 

office: DHHC 116           phone (with voicemail): 280-2632       email: stphns AT creighton DOT edu

 

Description

 

This Honors Program (and CCAS Certified Writing) course will use philosophical methods to study the nature of animals, the nature of persons, and the ethical dynamics between persons and animals.  What makes a being a person?  Are all human beings persons or only some?  Are there any nonhuman persons?  Are androids, Blade Runner Replicants, computers, or divine beings persons?  Are some nonhuman animals persons?  Are dolphins, whales, or great apes persons?  What philosophical methods can be used to constructing defensible answers to these questions?  What obligations do morally responsible agents have to persons, to sentient rudimentary persons, and to living non-persons?  How do myths, folklore, biology, the theory of evolution, and the science of ethology inform our thinking about such questions?  We will draw from various philosophical texts in order to examine the fascinating and complex ethical, social, and metaphysical relationships between persons and animals.

 

Course Objectives

Students will learn how...

• To roughly outline the history of the concept ‘person’ from inception to today.
• To compare and contrast several competing philosophical conceptions of what a person is.
• To construct a coherent, philosophically defensible position on which beings and animals are persons and why, which beings and animals are not persons and why, and which beings are neither paradigmatic persons nor paradigmatic non-persons.
• To explain some important ethical issues regarding the treatment of persons, non-persons, and borderline cases.
• To outline the ethical debate regarding the status and treatment of nonhuman animals by articulating the main competing positions.
• To explain several arguments for philosophical vegetarianism and discuss objections to those arguments.

 

Required Books

 

• Jonathan Safran Foer, Eating Animals. New York, NY: Little, Brown & Co., 2009.  ISBN 978-0-316-06990-8.
• Paul Shepard, The Others: How Animals Made Us Human. Washington, DC: Island Press, 1997.  ISBN 1-55963-434-0.
• W. O. Stephens, The Person: Readings in Human Nature. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall, 2006.  ISBN 0-13-184811-9.

Required Essays

• S. J. Armstrong & R. G. Botzler, The Animal Ethics Reader, 2nd ed. New York: Routledge, 2008 [= A&B]
• Paola Cavalieri, “Whales as Persons” in A&B: 204–210
• Helen Fields, “An Appetite for Whaling,” National Geographic, July 2008: 33
• Erica Goode, “Sit. Stay. Love.” The New York Times, July 6, 2008
• Peter Gwin, “A View to a Kill: Hunting Bears in Katmai National Preserve, Alaska,” National Geographic, July 2008: 28
• Rosalind Hursthouse, “Applying Virtue Ethics to Our Treatment of the Other Animals” in The Practice of Virtue, J. Welchman ed. Hackett, 2006
• Mark Jenkins, “Virunga Gorillas,” National Geographic, July 2008: 34–65
• K. E. Lange, “Nasty Bites,” National Geographic, July 2008: 26
• Virginia Morell, “Animal Minds,” National Geographic, March 2008: 36–61
• Stephen Mulhall, “Picturing the Human (Body and Soul): A Reading of Blade Runner,” Film and Philosophy, vol. 1, 1994: 87–104
• Tom O’Neill, “Spot Check: Giraffes,” National Geographic, July 2008: 24
• Tom Regan, “The Case for Animal Rights” [excerpts] in A&B: 19–25
• S. F. Sapontzis, “Saving the Rabbit from the Fox,” Ch. 13 of Morals, Reason, and Animals. Philadelphia, PA: Temple University Press, 1987
• K. J. Shapiro, “Human-Animal Studies: Growing the Field, Applying the Field,” Ann Arbor, MI: Animals and Society Institute, 2008
• M. P. Simmonds, “Into the Brains of Whales” in A&B: 193–203
• Peter Singer, “Practical Ethics” [excerpts] in A&B: 36–46
• James Vlahos, “Pill-popping Pets,” The New York Times Magazine, July 13, 2008: 38–45, 54, 62–63
• Nicholas Wade, “Scientist Finds the Beginnings of Morality in Primate Behavior,” The New York Times, March 20, 2007
• D. F. Wallace, “Consider the Lobster” Gourmet, August 2004: 50–64
• Whitehead et al., “Culture and Conservation of Non-humans with Reference to Whales and Dolphins” in A&B: 181–192

Required Film

• Blade Runner, Director’s Cut (1982) directed by Ridley Scott.  On four-hour and overnight reserve at Reinert Library.
• Food, Inc. (2009) directed by Robert Kenner.
   

Recommended Texts

• Lewis Vaughn, Writing Philosophy: A Student’s Guide to Writing Philosophy Essays. Oxford University Press, 2006.  ISBN 0-19-517956-0.

• William O. Stephens, How to Write Philosophy Papers: A Manual for Beginning Philosophy Students ($4 at the Philosophy Dept.)

 

Other Texts

• Frans de Waal, Primates and Philosophers: How Morality Evolved. Princeton University Press, 2006. ISBN 0-691-12447-7.

• James Rachels, Created from Animals: The Moral Implications of Darwinism. Oxford University Press, 1999 (paperback) ISBN 0-19-2861298.

• Rosemary Rodd, Biology, Ethics and Animals. Oxford University Press, 1992 (paperback) ISBN 0-19-824052-X.

 

Web sites and Videos

• Colleen Patrick-Goudreau’s Vegetarian Food for Thought with PODCASTS

• Animal Freedom website

• Tom Regan’s Animal Rights website

• The Meatrix I, The Meatrix II, The Meatrix II½

• msnbc video on the sad end to Travis the chimp

• msnbc video on whether chimps should be kept as pets

• npr story on Santino the chimp who stockpiled projectiles to throw at zoo visitors in Sweden

• CBSnews.com Jan. 6, 2009 story "The Animal Odd Couple" (Tara the elephant & Bella the dog)

• CBSnews.com June 5, 2009 story on "The Animal Odd Couple Part II" (Tara the elephant & Bella the dog)

• Species Diversity and Biodiversity (How many species are there?)

• “Mekong a ‘treasure trove’ of 1,000 newly discovered species”

Course Requirements (and percentage of course grade)

 

Two Papers (1600 words minimum; suggested max. 1900 words)	20% + 20%
Two Exams	15% + 15%
Final Exam	15%
Class Participation (includes pop reading quizlets)	15%

     

Attendance Policy

 

Regular and punctual class attendance is a necessary but not sufficient condition for a good class participation grade.  Absences totaling the equivalent of three (3) weeks of class meetings will result in an AF (failure due to excessive absence) for this course.  Each absence fewer than three weeks will incrementally lower the student’s class participation grade.  Students are responsible for all material discussed and all announcements made in every class.  If a student misses a class, it is her responsibility to find out what she missed.  Being tardy twice counts as one absence. 

 

Academic Honesty and Penalties for Violations

Students who plagiarize any part of a paper or written assignment will receive an F (zero) for that assignment. Students who cheat on an assignment will receive an F (zero) on that assignment.  Students are required to produce their own original work in their papers and assignments, including all ideas, arguments, and sentences.  Students may not take ideas or sentences from another unless that source is properly cited.  Students may NOT work with others when writing the sentences of their assignments.  However, students are encouraged to discuss ideas pertaining to their papers with other students in the course and with other people not taking the course.  Citations on the paper should follow the guidelines in How to Write Philosophy Papers.  In a case of plagiarism or cheating judged by the instructor to be flagrant, the student will receive an F for the course.  See the Creighton College of Arts & Sciences Academic Honesty Procedures.

Paper Requirements

Click on this link for details about selecting your PAPER TOPIC.  A hard copy of the paper must be delivered under Prof. Stephens' office door (HC 116) or put in his hand in order to count as being received.  Emailed papers are not acceptable.  Late papers will be penalized ten (10) points per day late.  Print your NAME, the COURSE number and name, the name of your PROFESSOR, the TITLE of your paper, and the WORD COUNT on the cover page.  Your paper will be a THESIS DEFENSE paper, also known as an argumentative essay.  See chapters 3, 4, 5, and 6 in Vaughn, Writing Philosophy or (perhaps and) Stephens, How to Write Philosophy Papers.

Pop Quizlets

Ordinarily pop quizlets cannot be taken later if missed.  Quizlets usually contain about ten questions.  I will drop your lowest quizlet score when calculating your final Class Participation grade.

Class Cancellation Procedures

 

Ordinarily, the instructor will notify students of a cancelled class via email or on the web-syllabus or both.  Students are expected to confirm that a class is cancelled by at least one of three means: (1) telephone call to the instructor’s office phone; (2) telephone call to the Philosophy Department Administrative Assistant, Mrs. Peggy Troy; (3) first-hand, eye witness observation of a credible class cancellation sign printed on Creighton University Philosophy Department stationery, and signed either by the instructor or by Mrs. Peggy Troy, posted inside the classroom.  Word of mouth does not justify a student’s belief that a class is cancelled.

 

• Extreme lack of clarity or lack of coherence of argument or expression of thought.
• Disregard for the requirements of the assignment.
• Irrelevant use or failure to use relevant course readings.
• Submission of another's words or thoughts as if they were your own, whether in the form of plagiarism or failure to acknowledge the source of an idea.
• Very poor class attendance with no participation in discussions.

D    “Work of inferior quality, but passing” (60 to <70% average)

• Unclarity or incoherence of argument or expression of thought.
• Failure to satisfy the requirements of the assignment.
• Poor or inadequate understanding or use of relevant course readings.
• Improper acknowledgment or citation of the sources of your ideas.
• Poor class attendance with little or no participation in discussions.

C    “Satisfactory work”

• Basic clarity and coherence of argument and expression of thought.
• Satisfaction of the assignment’s basic requirements.
• Fair or adequate understanding of the major views and theories in the relevant course readings and the arguments presented in support of those views and theories.
• Minimally clear and coherent evaluation of the views and arguments in the relevant course readings.
• Minimally proper acknowledgment and citation of the sources of your ideas.
• Generally consistent class attendance with occasional participation in discussions.
• 77 to <80% average for a C+; 70 to <77% average for a C.

B    “Noteworthy level of performance”    Demonstrates all of the qualities of satisfactory work plus:

• Good, above average clarity and coherence of argument and expression of thought.
• Clear, logical organization of the essay’s introduction, body, and conclusion.
•  Clear, detailed, and accurate understanding of the major views and theories in the relevant course readings and of the arguments presented in support of those views
  and theories.
• Good attempt to provide argumentative support for your evaluation of the views, theories, and arguments presented in the relevant course readings.
• Regular, consistent class attendance with regular, good participation in discussions.
• 87 to <90% average for a B+; 80 to <87% average for a B.

A    “Outstanding achievement and an unusual degree of intellectual initiative”  Demonstrates all of the qualities of noteworthy performance plus:

• Excellent, superior clarity and coherence of argument and expression of thought.
• Clear, rigorous, and cogent argumentative support for your evaluation of the views, theories, and arguments presented in the relevant course readings.
• Originality and creativity of interpretation, explanation, argumentation, or criticism. 
• Superior class attendance with consistent, excellent, and thoughtful participation in discussions.  
• 90% average or above.

Punctuality is a virtue.  Prof. Stephens strives to attend every class on time.  He expects all of his students to attend every class, on time, every week, all semester long.  Being in class is a NECESSARY but not a sufficient condition for earning a good class participation grade.  Six (6) or more absences will result in an AF (failure due to excessive absence) for this course.  Each absence fewer than six will incrementally lower your class participation grade.  You are responsible for all material discussed and all announcements made in every class.  If you miss a class, it is your responsibility to find out what you missed.  Being tardy twice counts as one absence.  Class begins when Prof. Stephens enters the room or at 3:00 pm, whichever comes second, so if you arrive after that, then you are tardy.  “Participation” means raising your hand to be called on and making comments about the reading or the discussion, or asking questions about the reading or the lecture, or responding to questions Prof. Stephens raises or comments made by other students.  Attentively listening to everything said in class is certainly expected.  But it is virtually impossible to learn how to do philosophy by merely listening.  Listening alone does not count in the least as oral participation.  You must vocalize your questions, thoughts, and comments out loud in class.  Both quality and quantity of oral remarks count; both are recorded for every class.  Since we will be closely attending to the readings in our class discussions, it is vital that everyday you bring to class your book (or a printed copy of the essay or essays) containing that day’s reading assignment.

Schedule

 

Jan. 14	Introduction to philosophical methods; Pre-test
Jan. 19	Foer, Ch. 1:  Storytelling (1–18)
Jan. 21	Foer, Ch. 2:  All or Nothing or Something Else (19–42) and
	Jeff Jordan, “Friends Shouldn’t Let Friends Be Eaten: A New Argument for Vegetarianism”  on BlueLine
Jan. 26	Foer, Ch. 3:  Words/Meaning (43–77)
Jan. 28	Foer, Ch. 4:  Hiding/Seeking (78–116)
Feb. 2	Foer, Ch. 5:  Influence/Speechlessness (117–148)
Feb. 4	Foer, Ch. 6:  Slices of Paradise/Pieces of Shit (149–200)
Feb. 9	Foer, Ch. 7:  I Do (201–244)
Feb. 11	Foer, Ch. 8:  Storytelling (245–268); PAPER #1 DUE
Feb. 16	Shepard, Introduction and Part I: The Animal Fare, Chapters 1 – 2 (3–40)         VOCABULARY in Shepard, The Others
Feb. 18	Shepard, Part II: Cognition, Chapters 3 – 4 (43–68)
Feb. 23	Shepard, Part III: Identity, Chapters 5 – 8 (71–114)
Feb. 25	Shepard, Part IV: Change, Chapters 9 – 11 (117–152)
March 2	Shepard, Chapters 12 – 13 (153–172); “Cat cuisine embroils China shops in protests,” The Boston Globe, Jan 2, 2009;
March 4	Shepard, Part V: The Cosmos, Chapters 14 – 15 (175–204)
	SPRING RECESS
March 16	Shepard, Chapters 16 – 17 (205–242); Mark Bittman, “Rethinking the Meat-Guzzler,” The New York Times, January 27, 2008
March 18	Shepard, Chapter 18: Hounding Nature: The Nightmares of Domestication (243–267)
March 23	Shepard, Part VI: Counterplayers, Chapters 19 – 22 (271–303)
March 25	Shepard, Chapters 23 – 24 (304–333)                       Review for Exam on Shepard
March 30	EXAM on Shepard
April 1	Stephens, Ch. 3: Cicero, Ch. 6: Boethius (17–21, 32–37)
April 6	Stephens, Ch. 6: Boethius continued (reread 32–37)
April 8	Stephens, Ch. 36: A. O. Rorty, “Persons and Personae” (336–350)
April 13	Stephens, Ch. 42: The Boyd Group, “The Moral Status of Non-human Primates: Are Apes Persons?” (409–415),
	Nicholas Wade, “Scientist Finds the Beginnings of Morality in Primate Behavior,” and Mark Jenkins, “Virunga Gorillas”
April 15	Stephens, Ch. 39: Oswald Hanfling, “Machines as Persons?” (379–386)
	watch Blade Runner before class (the film is on reserve in Reinert Library)
April 20	view Dr Bucher’s Powerpoint lecture (in three parts) “Style and Meaning in Blade Runner” on BlueLine for this course (under “Lessons”)
	Hampton Fancher & David Peoples, Blade Runner Screenplay (Feb. 23, 1981)
April 22	Stephen Mulhall, “Picturing the Human (Body and Soul): A Reading of Blade Runner”
April 27	Whitehead et al., “Culture and Conservation of Non-humans with Reference to Whales and Dolphins,” M. P. Simmonds, “Into the Brains of Whales,”
	Helen Fields, “An Appetite for Whaling”
April 29	Stephens, Ch. 34: Mary Midgley, “Persons and Non-Persons” (313–320), Paola Cavalieri, “Whales as Persons”
	Review for Exam #2                  Review for Final Exam
May ?	1:00–2:40 pm    Final Exam

           

* The instructor reserves the right, at his discretion and as needed, to make minor changes to this syllabus during the course of the semester (and the semester of the course) including due dates, assignments, and requirements. *

 

last modified 13 November 2009
Copyright © 2009 William O. Stephens