Philosophy 20: Ethics

Pierce College

Department of History, Philosophy, & Sociology

Group Exercise for Animal Ethics

(Notes on the importance of group exercises.) 

Group Work Summary: In groups, discuss why some think that non-human animals deserve, and do not deserve, moral consideration.   

Step 1 (ten minutes): Individually, write out why someone could think that non-human animals have human-like value.  Then write out why someone could think that non-human animals have value similar to rocks. 

Step 2 (ten minutes):  In groups discuss, in turn, the various reasons why someone could think that non-human animals have human-like value. 

Step 3 (ten minutes):  In groups discuss, in turn, the various reasons why someone could think that non-human animals do not have human-like value.

Step 4 (ten minutes):  In your original (pre-group) seats, we collectively discuss the fruits of our labor.