Module ANTM111 for 2021/2
- Overview
- Aims and Learning Outcomes
- Module Content
- Indicative Reading List
- Assessment
Postgraduate Module Descriptor
ANTM111: Animal Ethics
This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.
Module Aims
This module aims to introduce students to the ethics of non-human life. By covering key topics in ethics and philosophical argumentation the module seeks to grant students from any background an understanding of how philosophical approaches can be applied to the problems associated with human interactions with other living things. The module aims to give students a good general knowledge in animal ethics and also the conceptual limits which define this field (what is an animal?). Through this module you will gain an understanding of the range of ethical problems which our life with non-human organisms gives rise to and to the possible responses which have been and might be offered to these problems. This module aims particularly at ensuring you will gain a good understanding of the concepts of sentience and personhood and how these might be employed in our thinking about non-human life.
| On successfully completing the programme you will be able to: | |
|---|---|
| Module-Specific Skills | 1. Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the ethical questions associated with human interactions with non-human organisms. 2. Analyse critically issues relating to personhood and sentience. 3. Articulate clearly stances for and against potential positions in animal ethics. |
| Discipline-Specific Skills | 4. Articulate, in written form, valid ethical arguments. 5. Demonstrate a clear understanding of systematic analysis and philosophical problem solving. 6. Demonstrate an understanding of the breadth of philosophical debate and the place of ethics within philosophy and its relationship with other academic disciplines. |
| Personal and Key Skills | 7. Communicate effectively (orally and in writing) valid arguments. 8. Engage calmly and effectively in debate concerning highly sensitive topics. 9. Evaluate effectively an opposing stance when assessing the value of arguments. |
Module Content
Syllabus Plan
Whilst the precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover all or some of the following topics:
- Reading and Writing Philosophy and Ethics
- The Metaethical Triumvirate: Utilitarianism, Deontology and Virtue Ethics. Exploring the classic theories in ethics (and a realist’s disclaimer).
- Non-Human Life and Philosophy: a history of animals and other living things in philosophical discourse.
- Souls 1: Philosophy of Mind, Rationality, Language and Human Exceptionalism: Are humans different to other animals and why might that matter?
- Utilitarianism and Singer: Are pleasure and pain the things which matter?
- Animal Liberation and Kantian Means to Ends: Understanding intrinsic and instrumental value and how using animals fits in.
- Vegetarianism and Veganism: What justification is there for or against these ‘lifestyles’?
- Souls 2: Sentience, Interests and the Boundaries of Personhood: Discussing the possible problems with the concept of sentience and where we should draw the boundaries of personhood.
- The Peculiar Weight of Death and Killing: To whom is death harmful? Is it particularly harmful? How and why?
- Wisdom and Moral Pluralism: Do we need to stick to one of these ethical theories? Are our lives with animals important for us being good people?
Learning and Teaching
This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 42 | 108 | 0 |
...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities | 10 | 10 x 1 hour podcast audio lectures with accompanying powerpoint presentations |
| Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities | 10 | 10 x 1 hour discussion/seminar participations |
| Guided Independent Study | 20 | Preparation for formative assessments |
| Guided Independent Study | 88 | Research and writing of summative assessments |
| Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities | 20 | 10 x 2 hours participating in the VLE discussion forums (formative assessments) |
| Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities | 2 | 2 x 1 hour assessment preparation tutorials |
Online Resources
This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).
Online journals and ebooks including Oxford Handbook of Animal Ethics, Journal of Animal Ethics, Journal of Agricultural & Environmental Ethics, Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science.
How this Module is Assessed
In the tables below, you will see reference to 'ILO's. An ILO is an Intended Learning Outcome - see Aims and Learning Outcomes for details of the ILOs for this module.
Formative Assessment
A formative assessment is designed to give you feedback on your understanding of the module content but it will not count towards your mark for the module.
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-assessed exercises | Weekly Q&A discussions on VLE discussion forums | 1-9 | Peer-assessed (via postings on ELE and written feedback on the discussion forums. Tutor and peer feedback during group discussions. |
| Essay proposal | 500 words | 1, 3-9 (and 2 if topic relates to sentience) | Peer-assessed (via postings on ELE and written feedback from module tutor. |
Summative Assessment
A summative assessment counts towards your mark for the module. The table below tells you what percentage of your mark will come from which type of assessment.
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
...and this table provides further details on the summative assessments for this module.
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 65 | 2500 words | 1-9 | Written feedback |
| Portfolio of responses to each lecture topic. Within the portfolio, students will be required to write a question which arises from each lecture topic and offer an argument for or against an answer to that question within the space of 150 words. | 35 | 10 x 150 words (1500 words) | 1-9 | Written feedback |
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 |
Re-assessment
Re-assessment takes place when the summative assessment has not been completed by the original deadline, and the student has been allowed to refer or defer it to a later date (this only happens following certain criteria and is always subject to exam board approval). For obvious reasons, re-assessments cannot be the same as the original assessment and so these alternatives are set. In cases where the form of assessment is the same, the content will nevertheless be different.
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | Essay (2500 words) | 1-9 | August/September reassessment period |
| Portfolio of short written responses to each of the lecture topics | Portfolio of short written responses to each of the lecture topics (1500 words) | 1-9 | August/September reassessment period |
Indicative Reading List
This reading list is indicative - i.e. it provides an idea of texts that may be useful to you on this module, but it is not considered to be a confirmed or compulsory reading list for this module.
Carruthers, P. 1989, ‘Brute Experience’, The Journal of Philosophy, Vol. 86, No. 5. May, pp. 258-269
Cochrane, A. 2012, Animal Rights Without Liberation, New York, NY: Columbia University Press
Dennet, D. 2017, From Bacteria to Bach and Back, St Ives: Allen Lane
Fox, M. A. 1986, The Case for Animal Experimentation, Berkeley, University of California Press
Gaita, R. 2003, The Philosopher’s Dog, London: Routledge
Nagel, T. 1987, What Does it All Mean?, Oxford: Oxford University Press
Osborne, C. 2007, Dumb Beasts and Dead Philosophers, Oxford: Oxford University Press
Regan, T. 1985, ‘The Case for Animal Rights’ in Singer, P. In Defense of Animals, Oxford: Blackwell
Rowlands, M. 2012, Can Animals be Moral?, Oxford: Oxford University Press
Singer, P. 1994, Practical Ethics, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
______. 1990 (1975), Animal Liberation, New York, NY: Random House
