What Do We Owe Animals?

Most people agree that causing unnecessary suffering to animals is wrong. But beyond that, there is surprisingly little agreement.

Do animals have rights, or only interests that humans should consider? Is it acceptable to eat animals? Use them in medical research? Keep them as pets? What, if anything, gives humans a higher moral status than other animals?

Among other questions, we will consider:

Why is it wrong to kick a dog for fun? If a trait gives humans a higher moral status than animals, what should we say about humans who lack that trait?
Should we intervene in nature to reduce animal suffering, or should we leave nature alone? Is the capacity to suffer enough for moral consideration?
Would it be wrong to painlessly kill an animal that had a good life? Do we owe more to our pets than to wild animals?

Join us for an open and respectful discussion of one of the most enduring and challenging questions in ethics: what do we owe animals?

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