David Killoren: The philosophy of invading a beagle breeding facility
David Killoren: The philosophy of invading a beagle breeding facility
Later this week, at least two philosophers will risk arrest by taking part in the largest-ever open rescue in the history of animal activism. Ridglan Farms, located in Wisconsin. One of them is David Killoren, visiting professor of philosophy at Grand Valley State University. Killoren invites discussion among philosophers about the purpose of open rescue and confrontational animal activism more generally. He goes on to raise the question of whether open rescue should be counted as a form of civil disobedience. DAILY NOUS: Later this week, at least two philosophers will risk arrest by taking part in the largest-ever open […]
COMPASSION, PASS IT ON: The man who had nothing, and yet gave more than most of us ever will
COMPASSION, PASS IT ON: The man who had nothing, and yet gave more than most of us ever will
Compassion is not a privilege reserved for the wealthy or the powerful. It does not require perfect circumstances. The man on the sidewalk does not wait until he has enough money, enough time, or enough convenience. He acts now, with what he has, because hunger cannot wait for ideal conditions. We have learned to separate ourselves from animal suffering, to treat it as background noise rather than moral responsibility. Yet history will not judge compassion by intention. It will judge it by action. Kindness toward animals is not sentimental weakness. It is moral courage. COALITION FOR ANIMAL RIGHTS: There is […]
Outsider Animals: How the creatures at the margins of our lives have the most to teach us
Outsider Animals: How the creatures at the margins of our lives have the most to teach us
Many nonhuman animals with whom we share our homes and other landscapes are often mistakenly written off as being unimportant and disposable ‘pests’ . However, they deserve more respect; we kill them far too often, and writing them off says more about us than them. These animals, including raccoons, rats, and coyotes, are actually very important neighbors. It’s easy to only think of animals in terms of what they do for (or to) us, rather than look at them and appreciate them for themselves. PSYCHOLOGY TODAY: Many of the nonhuman animals (animals) with whom we share our homes and other […]
