Anthropocentrism and Its Discontents: The Moral Status of Animals in the History of Western Philosophy

摘要: "Anthropocentrism and Its Discontents" is the first-ever comprehensive examination of views animals in history Western philosophy, from Homeric Greece to twentieth century. In recent decades, increased interest this area has been accompanied by scholars' willingness conceive animal experience terms human mental capacities: consciousness, self-awareness, intention, deliberation, some instances, at least limited moral agency. This conception facilitated a shift behavioral cognitive ethology (the science behavior), attempts affirm essential similarities between psychophysical makeup beings animals. Gary Steiner sketches current debates about relates these their historical antecedents, focusing on both dominant anthropocentric voices those recurring that instead assert fundamental kinship relation He concludes with discussion problem balancing need recognize indebtedness natural world preserve sense uniqueness dignity individual.