Topic: Explain why Steinbock believes that humans are entitled to “a privileged position in the moral community.” What exactly is her argument, and is it satisfactory? Evaluate her response to the objection to her position referred to in your readings as the Argument from Marginal Cases (AMC). Has she answered the challenge?
2) Include a title page. There is no need for a reference page. You may include an abstract if you want, but it is not required.
3) Your paper should be 3-4 pages in length, not including your title page, and any abstract you choose to write.
4) DO NOT use any outside sources. All I want is your own intellectual engagement with the article you are writing about. I DO NOT want you doing any outside research (Hence no need for a reference page).
5) Get right to the point. No fluff. I reward conciseness and clarity. Assume I am your audience and I am familiar with the topic and reading.
6) Be fair to the author you are evaluating. Don’t caricature his or her position.
7) Proofread! Better yet, have someone you trust help you edit. You will be graded down for poor or sloppy writing, including typos, misspellings, and grammatical mistakes.
8) Do not plagiarize. Do not go online looking for any easy term paper, or some one else’s evaluation of the paper topic. I almost always recognize writing style changes, and professional writing. If you are caught plagiarizing, you will receive zero points for the paper.
9) Have fun! If by the end of the assignment you have a headache from thinking so hard, and the topic appears far more complex than you originally thought, you have done the right thing.
READINGS for this assignment:
CONTEMPORARY MORAL PROBLEMS James White (10thedition)
This week’s readings have a factual component, and a philosophical component. First the factual component, which consists of going to a website to get up to speed on the current state of animal abuse in America:
1) Go to this PETALinks to an external site. (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) webpage, and look to the right side of the page for the section entitled “learn about the issues.” Please click on at least the food, clothing, and experimentation images to learn about animal practices in each of these categories. (It is up to you if you want to also investigate the entertainment, companions, and wildlife sections.)
Articles: Animals place: Michael Pollan and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)
Now for the Philosophical Arguments. Please read in your text:
2) White’s Introduction, pp. 271–275
3) Kant, Our Duty to Animals, pp 275-276 (keep in mind this is an excerpt from a lecture given by Kant sometime between 1775 and 1800, and was recorded by his students)
4) Singer, All Animals are Equal, pp. 277-285
5) Steinbock, Speciesism and the Idea of Equality, pp. 285-292
6) Norcross, Puppies, Pigs, and People: Eating Meat and Marginal Cases, pp. 292-304
For your final piece of philosophy, please read:
7) Pollan, An Animal’s PlaceLinks to an external site.
