Anmeldung: Ethics in Science – Animal Ethics [ENG]

Registrations of doctoral candidates will be considered preferentially. 

IMPORTANT: 
Completion of the mandatory preparatory tasks until Friday, 27 November 2026, 10:30 AM is a prerequisite for participation in the course. 
If the tasks have not been completed and uploaded, you will not have access to the web conference room!
Access to the room will only be granted shortly before the start of the course.

Animals and animal products are something that we can encounter almost everywhere: in our food, our clothing, product testing, but also as pets in our families. Depending on the context and species, animals are valued and treated very differently – but rightly so? Do we owe them more than what is currently customary? Or are our animal rights ambitions a kind of narcissistic romanticism, and veganist activities expressions of a substitute religion? Few issues are as controversial as the proper treatment of animals and which positions are to be regarded as better justified. We want to ask what makes animals worth protecting and what distinguishes humans from animals from an ethical point of view – if so. Does moral status depend on being a person, and is it independent of species boundaries? And if so, are there people who aren't persons? And animals that are? And what about other beings, such as artificial life? And what tale does it tell that our society handles its proper treatment of animals in property law? We want to look into these fundamental questions – discursively and supported by media.

Inhalt und Lernziele

• Differentiate levels of ethical decision-making
• Adapt general normative questions for specific cases
• Strengthen self-reflection
• Recognise and analyse anthropological issues
• Strengthen understanding of cultural techniques of arts for reflection on ethical issues

Prior participation in the course "Trustworthiness of Science" is recommended.