Can Animals Be Moral?

Mark Rowlands

doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199842001.001.0001

Can Animals Be Moral?

Mark Rowlands

Philosophy

Research output: Book/Report › Book

42 Citations (Scopus)

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	https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199842001.001.0001
State	Published - Jan 24 2013

Fingerprint

Animals

Moral Reasons

Moral Motivation

Emotion

Reasons for Action

Weave

Cognitive Ethology

Philosophy of Mind

Metaphysics

Metaethics

Moral Emotions

Philosopher

Moral Psychology

Keywords

Action
Agency
Animals
Cognitive ethology
Emotions
Moral psychology
Reasons

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Arts and Humanities(all)

Cite this

Rowlands, M. (2013). Can Animals Be Moral? Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199842001.001.0001

Can Animals Be Moral? / Rowlands, Mark.

Oxford University Press, 2013. 288 p.

Research output: Book/Report › Book

Rowlands, M 2013, Can Animals Be Moral? Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199842001.001.0001

Rowlands M. Can Animals Be Moral? Oxford University Press, 2013. 288 p. https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199842001.001.0001

Rowlands, Mark. / Can Animals Be Moral?. Oxford University Press, 2013. 288 p.

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