Abstract
The idea that animals can act morally-can act for moral reasons-has been almost universally rejected by philosophers and scientists alike. According to tradition, while animals may be objects of moral concern, they cannot be regarded as subjects of moral motivation. This book argues against the traditional view. Animals can act for moral reasons-at least there are no compelling reasons for supposing that that they can't. Animals can act on the basis of moral emotions-emotions that possess moral content-and these emotions provide reasons for their actions. Animals can, in this sense, be moral subjects. Using recent empirical work in cognitive ethology as a springboard, this book embarks on a meticulous examination of the idea of moral motivation-an examination that weaves its way through central topics in the philosophy of mind, metaphysics, metaethics, and moral psychology. The result of this investigation is a powerful defense of an extraordinarily controversial claim-animals can, in fact, be moral-that is sure to engender heated debate.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Oxford University Press |
| Number of pages | 288 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9780199979844, 9780199842001 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jan 24 2013 |
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Keywords
- Action
- Agency
- Animals
- Cognitive ethology
- Emotions
- Moral psychology
- Reasons
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Arts and Humanities(all)
Cite this
Can Animals Be Moral? / Rowlands, Mark.
Oxford University Press, 2013. 288 p.Research output: Book/Report › Book
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TY - BOOK
T1 - Can Animals Be Moral?
AU - Rowlands, Mark
PY - 2013/1/24
Y1 - 2013/1/24
N2 - The idea that animals can act morally-can act for moral reasons-has been almost universally rejected by philosophers and scientists alike. According to tradition, while animals may be objects of moral concern, they cannot be regarded as subjects of moral motivation. This book argues against the traditional view. Animals can act for moral reasons-at least there are no compelling reasons for supposing that that they can't. Animals can act on the basis of moral emotions-emotions that possess moral content-and these emotions provide reasons for their actions. Animals can, in this sense, be moral subjects. Using recent empirical work in cognitive ethology as a springboard, this book embarks on a meticulous examination of the idea of moral motivation-an examination that weaves its way through central topics in the philosophy of mind, metaphysics, metaethics, and moral psychology. The result of this investigation is a powerful defense of an extraordinarily controversial claim-animals can, in fact, be moral-that is sure to engender heated debate.
AB - The idea that animals can act morally-can act for moral reasons-has been almost universally rejected by philosophers and scientists alike. According to tradition, while animals may be objects of moral concern, they cannot be regarded as subjects of moral motivation. This book argues against the traditional view. Animals can act for moral reasons-at least there are no compelling reasons for supposing that that they can't. Animals can act on the basis of moral emotions-emotions that possess moral content-and these emotions provide reasons for their actions. Animals can, in this sense, be moral subjects. Using recent empirical work in cognitive ethology as a springboard, this book embarks on a meticulous examination of the idea of moral motivation-an examination that weaves its way through central topics in the philosophy of mind, metaphysics, metaethics, and moral psychology. The result of this investigation is a powerful defense of an extraordinarily controversial claim-animals can, in fact, be moral-that is sure to engender heated debate.
KW - Action
KW - Agency
KW - Animals
KW - Cognitive ethology
KW - Emotions
KW - Moral psychology
KW - Reasons
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U2 - 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199842001.001.0001
DO - 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199842001.001.0001
M3 - Book
SN - 9780199979844
SN - 9780199842001
BT - Can Animals Be Moral?
PB - Oxford University Press
ER -