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CS92PROD
Humans, Animals, and Nature

PHIL 215
Spring 2027
Section: 01  
Crosslisting: ENVS 215, STS 214

This course is designed to introduce you to central questions, themes, and approaches in today¿s animal ethics literature. Included among these are theoretical questions about the relative moral status of humans and non-human animals; the significance considerations of happiness, virtue, and inter-species relationships might have; and the relation between animal liberation and other social justice movements. We will also consider applied questions about killing and eating animals, predation, what we owe wild animals, pet ownership, and animal suffrage. We begin by looking at seminal readings in the history of the animal welfare/rights movement, before turning to critical lines of response that have become important in shaping a new wave of literature and approaches, including from virtue ethicists, feminist philosophers, and philosophers of disability and race. In addition to reading assignments and your participation in class meetings and exercises, your learning will be supplemented by documentary film(s), writing assignments and feedback, pop reading quizzes, and partner conversations. There are no prerequisites for this course, though priority will be given to Animal Studies minors.
Credit: 1 Gen Ed Area Dept: SBS PHIL
Course Format: Lecture / DiscussionGrading Mode: Credit/Unsatisfactory
Level: UGRD Prerequisites: None
Fulfills a Requirement for: (Animal Studies Minor)(Environmental Studies Minor)(Environmental Studies)(Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies)(Philosophy)(Science and Technology Studies)

Last Updated on NOV-13-2026
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