FYSP 070 - Should We Eat Meat? How to Craft an Argument

FC ARHU WINT

4 credits
Do humans owe animals justice? Is it morally permissible to kill and eat animals? In this seminar students will practice the art of argumentation by critically engaging with the “meat question.” We will interrogate a diverse range of contemporary and pre-modern arguments for and against animal rights. Do non-human animals suffer unnecessarily? Or are humans morally obligated to eat meat insofar as the existence of certain domesticated animals depends upon the practice of eating them? Or should we avoid meat altogether because animals are potentially our reincarnated friends and family? Through exploring these topics, students will develop their skills in precise argumentation, critical reading, and respectful, constructive dialogue.