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Dan Hicks and Monica List joined Peter Dorfman's group
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Ethics and Human-Animal Relations

From animal rights to global warming to public health, human use and treatment of animals is among the greatest social issues of our age.  This forum explores the philosophical and policy issues involved in our relation to animals.See More
Mar 23
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David O'Hara joined Peter Dorfman's group
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Ethics and Human-Animal Relations

From animal rights to global warming to public health, human use and treatment of animals is among the greatest social issues of our age.  This forum explores the philosophical and policy issues involved in our relation to animals.See More
Feb 23
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Michelle Bastian joined Peter Dorfman's group
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Ethics and Human-Animal Relations

From animal rights to global warming to public health, human use and treatment of animals is among the greatest social issues of our age.  This forum explores the philosophical and policy issues involved in our relation to animals.See More
Aug 7, 2012
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Peter Dorfman liked Peter Dorfman's discussion Frans de Waal on Moral Behavior in Animals
Jul 17, 2012
Peter Dorfman replied to Peter Dorfman's discussion Frans de Waal on Moral Behavior in Animals in the group Ethics and Human-Animal Relations
"Clearly, the question of whether animals have rights depends on what theory you hold of the source or justification for attributing rights in the first place.  For myself, being a nominalist in this area and believing that moral and political…"
Jul 17, 2012
Sara Waller replied to Peter Dorfman's discussion Frans de Waal on Moral Behavior in Animals in the group Ethics and Human-Animal Relations
"I'm surprised that DeWaal is taking up the position of Marc Hauser, i.e., animals have the 'basics' of morality, but don't really adhere to full blown 'moral principles' or 'moral systems' in the way that…"
Jul 12, 2012
Peter Dorfman added a discussion to the group Ethics and Human-Animal Relations
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Frans de Waal on Moral Behavior in Animals

Frans de Waal is a well-known researcher in animal behavior.  In the TED lecture below he discusses the manifestation of elements of moral values and judgement in a number of mammals and illustrates his findings with some interesting video footage.  These experiments once again show the continuity between aspects of human and non-human animal behavior and judgement.…See More
Jul 11, 2012
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Peter Dorfman added a discussion to the group Ethics and Human-Animal Relations
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Common Human and Animal Illnesses

Not exactly on the topic of this group, but still quite relevant to many considerations of how we should apply our understanding of humans to other animals, and vice versa.  The article from the June 10, 2012 New York Times provides a lengthy and interesting discussion of illnesses that are shared by humans and other animals, from heart disease, diabetes and cancer to addiction and self-harming. …See More
Jun 14, 2012
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Kyle Powys Whyte joined Peter Dorfman's group
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Ethics and Human-Animal Relations

From animal rights to global warming to public health, human use and treatment of animals is among the greatest social issues of our age.  This forum explores the philosophical and policy issues involved in our relation to animals.See More
Jun 14, 2012
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Peter Dorfman added a discussion to the group Ethics and Human-Animal Relations
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NYTimes Feature, Put Your Ethics Where Your Mouth Is

I don't know how many people may have seen this discussion of the moral justification for eating meat on the New York Times web site so I am posting a link to it here:http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/04/20/magazine/ethics-eating-meat.html?emc=eta1The Times solicited essay submissions from its readers and then a panel of experts evaluated and selected the "best" from among…See More
Apr 25, 2012
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Kelsey Kamitomo joined Peter Dorfman's group
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Ethics and Human-Animal Relations

From animal rights to global warming to public health, human use and treatment of animals is among the greatest social issues of our age.  This forum explores the philosophical and policy issues involved in our relation to animals.See More
Mar 19, 2012
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William Grove-Fanning joined Peter Dorfman's group
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Ethics and Human-Animal Relations

From animal rights to global warming to public health, human use and treatment of animals is among the greatest social issues of our age.  This forum explores the philosophical and policy issues involved in our relation to animals.See More
Mar 13, 2012
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Vincent Reynolds liked Peter Dorfman's discussion The End of Nature
Feb 24, 2012
Peter Dorfman replied to Christina Rawls's discussion Cross Species Animal Relationships in the group Ethics and Human-Animal Relations
"Time Magazine recently ran an article on "The Science of Animal Friendships" (http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2106488,00.html).  It contains a number of anecdotes of what are described as friendships among members of…"
Feb 22, 2012
Michael T Stowers liked Peter Dorfman's discussion The End of Nature
Feb 12, 2012
Ike Sharpless replied to Peter Dorfman's discussion Animal Studies in the Academy in the group Ethics and Human-Animal Relations
"Given the field's still-inchoate nature, I suspect there are as many current critical issues under exploration as there are scholars with diverse interests: 'critical animal studies' tends to be more abolitionist in focus…"
Jan 6, 2012

Profile Information

Institutional affiliation or employer (if any)
None
What is your professional position? (if any)
Independent Scholar/Activist
Interest in public philosophy? Please be as SPECIFIC AS YOU CAN. Members who answer "yes" or "a lot" will not be approved.
I am interested in the way that philosophical theories and perspectives can help to illuminate the challenging and ambiguous conditions of human experience. I am especially interested in the ethical questions concerning human relationships with nature and other animals. And I am intrigued by the way in which our attempts to resolve our philosophical difficulties so often lead to further questions and intellectual penumbra.

I began my philosophical career with an interest in Kantian and Phenomenological epistemology and philosophical psychology. I then focused on Pragmatism and Deweyan ethics, and I continue to be convinced that the naturalistic approach followed by most pragmatists is the most realistic and fruitful way to pursue philosophical investigations. The Pragmatic tradition contains a long history of participation in public debates and it is often by placing a philosophical question within the context of a public policy -- or at least an interpersonal -- debate that the salient issues and options can best be seen.

I would like to find that genuine and rigorous philosophical discussion can contribute to the formulation of public options but I am well-aware of the history and grounds for skepticism on this topic that were first expressed by Plato!

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