Module Specifications..
Current Academic Year 2024 - 2025
Please note that this information is subject to change.
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Description This module is about how human animals view and value nonhuman animals as well as how this relates to questions of nonhuman animals: as food; as beings with moral status; as a focus for relations of kinship, care and love; as supporters, guides and therapy; as "spectacle" or subjects of research; and as "infection risks." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Learning Outcomes 1. Explore the health, social, ethical and ecological implications of killing or using nonhuman animals for food in contemporary societies. 2. Examine arguments to do with the moral status of nonhuman animals. 3. Consider relations of kinship, care and love as they relate to nonhuman animals. 4. Evaluate the role of nonhuman animals as guides, supporters and therapy for humans. 5. Explore the uses of nonhuman animals as human 'spectacle' and research subjects. 6. Consider the links between patterns of human/nonhuman animal relations and infectious disease. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml |
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Indicative Content and Learning Activities
Nonhuman animals as foodHow animals are killed and used for food; Slaughterhouses- as "non-places", workers' mental health, workplace relations; Killing and nonhuman animal suffering; Religion and practices of killing; Everyday life for nonhuman animals on farms; Implications of farm living conditions for welfare, health and suffering; Organic farming as an alternative; Land use and nonhuman animal farming; Loss of biodiversity and species extinctions linked to farming of nonhuman animals for food; Climate change and farming; Fishing and effects on ocean ecology; Meat/dairy consumption and human health; Wholefood plant-based diets- health aspects.Nonhuman animals as beings of moral significanceThe ethical significance of nonhuman animal suffering; Preference utilitarian arguments and the case for veganism; Animals as ends in themselves, Kantian arguments; Arguments over animals as persons.Nonhuman animals as a focus for relations of kinship, care and loveFamily and kinship with nonhuman animals; Animals as "reasons to live" and endure suffering; Nonhuman animals as company and as sources of solace; Compassion towards nonhuman animals; Learning to care through relations with nonhuman animals.Nonhuman animals as guides, supporters and therapyAnimal assisted psychotherapy; Nonhuman animals in nursing homes; Equine therapy; Cardiovascular effects of contact with nonhuman animals; Nonhuman animals as guides and/or supporters for humans with disabilities.Nonhuman animals as spectacle and/or research subjectsZoos as spectacle; Animal suffering in zoos; The use of psychiatric medications; Arguments for species preservation through zoos; The impact of "environmental enrichment" in zoos; Ethics of research involving nonhuman animals; Justifications for nonhuman animal research; Questions over the extent of nonhuman animal research.Nonhuman animals as "infection risks"Pandemics and nonhuman animals; Killing nonhuman animals to limit the spread of infections; Habitat loss, trade in nonhuman animals and nonhuman animals as food as conditions for infectious diseases in humans. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Indicative Reading List
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Other Resources None | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Programme or List of Programmes
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