New York–area readers, take note: Fordham University is hosting a panel discussion of animal ethics on Friday, November 16. Our own R. R. Reno will participate along with Peter Singer, David Clough, and Eric Meyer.
The discussion, entitled “Christians and Other Animals: Moving the Conversation Forward,” will run from 4 to 6 p.m.
Details are available on the Fordham news blog, which provides this description of the event:
This panel, conducted with non-specialists in mind, will provoke Christians to think about other animals in new ways. Currently a very hot topic in academic theology and philosophy, concern for non-human animals is gaining traction in the broader culture, and our panel will try to connect academic and popular themes, in language that is accessible to a broad audience.
Those who wish to attend must RSVP in advance via email (to christiansandotheranimals@gmail.com). To view the event flier (PDF), see here. And here you can find Thomas Derr’s 1992 analysis of human and animal rights in these pages.
November 1st, 2012 | 4:15 pm
When will the panel of non-human animals meet to discuss the conflict between carnivores and prey? I hear that topic is gaining traction too. Or is this another species-ist conference where human animals speak for everyone else?
November 1st, 2012 | 5:31 pm
Hello Slats,
Thanks for keeping an open mind! I’m sure we’ll talk about a number of topics, but given that humans pretty directly control the shape/length of life for millions of other animals, it doesn’t seem like *too* crazy a topic for some careful consideration.
November 2nd, 2012 | 3:45 am
This is excellent. It’s essential for Christians (and non Christian Theists, such as Jews, Muslims, Deists) to think seriously about this. Humans, as important as we are, are not God’s only creation. Other animals deserve serious moral concern. Understandably, many Christians are not going to accept the validity of animal rights. I certainly respect this view. But those who deny that animals have rights, must devise a philosophically coherent moral theory, that takes animal consciousness and suffering seriously. It must go beyond the inadequate animal welfare position, that essentially argues that we should not abuse animals, (which is good, of course), but doesn’t address the billions of animals that suffer abuse daily producing food. Matthew Scully’s excellent 2001 book DOMINION goes a long way in showing, on a practical level, how conservatives and others, can treat animals better, without endorsing animal rights.
November 15th, 2012 | 11:39 am
[...] the panel, as is the editor of the conservative magazine First Things, R.R. Reno (mentioned here: http://www.firstthings.com/blogs/firstthoughts/2012/11/01/discussion-of-animal-ethics-at-fordham/). The panel is moderated by one of our own theology faculty, Charles Camosy. There will be a [...]
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