Scientists have long counseled against interpreting animal behavior in terms of human emotions, warning that such anthropomorphizing limits our ability to understand animals as they really are. Yet what are we to make of a female gorilla in a German zoo who spent days mourning the death of her baby? Or a wild female elephant who cared for a younger one after she was injured by a rambunctious teenage male? Or a rat who refused to push a lever for food when he saw that doing so caused another rat to be shocked? Aren’t these clear signs that animals have recognizable emotions and moral intelligence? With Wild Justice Marc Bekoff and Jessica Pierce unequivocally answer yes. Marrying years of behavioral and cognitive research with compelling and moving anecdotes, Bekoff and Pierce reveal that animals exhibit a broad repertoire of moral behaviors, including fairness, empathy, trust, and reciprocity. Underlying these behaviors is a complex and nuanced range of emotions, backed by a high degree of intelligence and surprising behavioral flexibility. Animals, in short, are incredibly adept social beings, relying on rules of conduct to navigate intricate social networks that are essential to their survival. Ultimately, Bekoff and Pierce draw the astonishing conclusion that there is no moral gap between humans and other species: morality is an evolved trait that we unquestionably share with other social mammals. Sure to be controversial, Wild Justice offers not just cutting-edge science, but a provocative call to rethink our relationship with—and our responsibilities toward—our fellow animals.
· 2023
A guide to cultivating a shared life of joy and respect with our dogs. Who’s a Good Dog? is an invitation to nurture more thoughtful and balanced relationships with our canine companions. By deepening our curiosity about what our dogs are experiencing, and by working together with them in a spirit of collaboration, we can become more effective and compassionate caregivers. With sympathy for the challenges met by both dogs and their humans, bioethicist Jessica Pierce explores common practices of caring for dogs, including how we provide exercise, what we feed, how and why we socialize and train, and how we employ tools such as collars and leashes. She helps us both to identify potential sources of fear and anxiety in our dogs’ lives and to expand practices that provide physical and emotional nourishment. Who’s a Good Dog? also encourages us to think more critically about what we expect of our dogs and how these expectations can set everyone up for success or failure. Pierce offers resources to help us cultivate attentiveness and kindness, inspiring us to practice the art of noticing, of astonishment, of looking with fresh eyes at these beings we think we know so well. And more than this, she makes her findings relatable by examining facets of her relationship with Bella, the dog in her life. As Bella shows throughout, all dogs are good dogs, and we, as humans and dog guardians, could be doing a little bit better to get along with them and give them what they need.
· 2012
Draws on both personal stories and research to present an in-depth exploration of the practical, medical, and moral issues that trouble pet owners confronted with the decline and death of their companion animals.
· 2016
44. Enriching Animals' Lives -- 45. Which Animals Should Be Pets? -- 46. Offering Better Protection -- 47. Speaking for Spot -- 48. So, Is Pet Keeping Ethical? -- Notes -- Bibliography -- Index
A compelling argument that the time has come to use what we know about the fascinating and diverse inner lives of other animals on their behalf Every day we are learning new and surprising facts about just how intelligent and emotional animals are—did you know rats like to play and laugh, and also display empathy, and the ears and noses of cows tell us how they’re feeling? At times, we humans translate that knowledge into compassion for other animals; think of the public outcry against the fates of Cecil the lion or the captive gorilla Harambe. But on the whole, our growing understanding of what animals feel is not resulting in more respectful treatment of them. Renowned animal-behavior expert Marc Bekoff and leading bioethicist Jessica Pierce explore the real-world experiences of five categories of animals, beginning with those who suffer the greatest deprivations of freedoms and choice—chickens, pigs, and cows in industrial food systems—as well as animals used in testing and research, including mice, rats, cats, dogs, and chimpanzees. Next, Bekoff and Pierce consider animals for whom losses of freedoms are more ambiguous and controversial, namely, individuals held in zoos and aquaria and those kept as companions. Finally, they reveal the unexpected ways in which the freedoms of animals in the wild are constrained by human activities and argue for a more compassionate approach to conservation. In each case, scientific studies combine with stories of individual animals to bring readers face-to-face with the wonder of our fellow beings, as well as the suffering they endure and the major paradigm shift that is needed to truly ensure their well-being. The Animals’ Agenda will educate and inspire people to rethink how we affect other animals, and how we can evolve toward more peaceful and less violent ways of interacting with our animal kin in an increasingly human-dominated world.
"What would happen to dogs if humans simply disappeared? Would dogs be able to survive on their own without the help of humans? Many people assume that dogs are so dependent on people that they could not and would not survive in a world without us. But is this true? And why does it matter to contemplate such a scenario? In this book, the authors argue that dogs would, as a species, survive without us and that imagining a world for dogs without humans allows us to explore a number of fascinating questions about the past, present, and future of dogs. The book opens by presenting the current state of dogs, including the surprising fact that of the c. 500 million dogs in the world only 20% are pets while the rest are street dogs, feral dogs, or strays, suggesting diversity in the ways which dogs exploit human habitats and by extension how they would fare without us. From there, the authors explore what is known about dog origins and their co-evolution with humans. The heart of the book draws on evolutionary biology to imagine what dogs might become, biologically, absent humans. For example, if dogs were no longer subjected to artificial selection pressures what would their evolutionary path look like? Would dogs become like their wolf ancestors? Would dogs maintain the evolved socio-cognitive skills that facilitate communication with humans? How would they interact with other animals? The authors conclude the book by asking whether dogs would be better or worse without humans, as imagining a world in which dogs are "wild" raises questions about pet keeping practices and about the costs of captivity for dogs. Ultimately, as the authors say, in thinking about who dogs might become without us we gain fresh insight into who dogs are on their own terms are and how our relationships with them can best benefit us both"--Provided by publisher.
No matter how cushy their lives, dogs live on our terms. They compromise their freedom and instinctual pleasure, as well as their innate strategies for coping with stress and anxiety, in exchange for the love, comfort, and care they get from us. But it is possible to let dogs be dogs without wreaking havoc on our lives, as biologist Marc Bekoff and bioethicist Jessica Pierce show in this fascinating book. They begin by illuminating the true nature of dogs and helping us "walk in their paws."; They reveal what smell, taste, touch, sight, and hearing mean to dogs and then guide readers through everyday ways of enhancing dogs's freedom in safe, mutually happy ways. The rewards, they show, are great for dog and human alike.
· 2024
An enchanting, fact-filled treasury for the dog lover in all of us, from A to Z Dogpedia is your gateway into the astonishing world of dogs. Featuring dozens of alphabetical entries on topics ranging from the wonders of dog evolution to the intricate ways dogs communicate with humans and each other, this enticing, pocket-friendly collection helps you to see dogs with new eyes and celebrate the amazing tapestry of our shared existence. Explore the remarkable interplay between humans and dogs with every turn of the page and discover how dogs have played starring roles in history, literature, and art. Immerse yourself in fun facts about dog biology and behavior, from appeasement signals and barking to counter surfing, dominance, growling, scent marking, and zoomies. Learn what fossilized poop can tell us about the history of dog domestication, how dogs in Siberia evolved adaptations to help them thrive in a frigid climate, how dogs have been weaponized for war and colonization, and why we refer to dogs as curs, mutts, and hounds. Meet famous dogs such as Argos, Balto, Boji, and Laika, and marvel at the interwoven destinies of our species and the profound impact dogs have had on our evolution, culture, and everyday lives. With captivating drawings that bring the entries to life, Dogpedia uncovers the enigma of dogs, revealing hidden treasures behind every wagging tail. Features a cloth cover with an elaborate foil-stamped design
· 2013
Morality Play is an ideal supplement for ethics courses, offering a case study approach that is both flexible and practical. It provides three alternative methods of organization for universal teaching approaches: contemporary moral problems, ethical theories, and moral principles. The introduction illustrates how to effectively use case studies in the classroom and provides a short review of the fundamentals of argumentation and critical thinking. Featuring ten new case studies, the latest edition continues to spotlight some of the most controversial, thought-provoking issues in ethics today. Themes such as crime and punishment, life and death, habitat and humanity, liberty and coercion, and value and culture are made relevant through insightful case studies drawn from newspaper accounts, legal opinions, and other factual sources. The cases present discrete problems designed to make readers examine their abstract notions about morality.
This text aims to bring bioethics and health care squarely into the 21st century. The book shows how environmental decline relates to human health and to health care practices in the US and other industrialized countries.