An Introduction to Animals and Political Theory (The Palgrave Macmillan Animal Ethics Series)

Structured around the five most important schools within contemporary political theory: liberalism, utilitarianism, communitarianism, Marxism and feminism, this is the first introductory level text to offer an accessible overview on the status of animals in contemporary political theory. How should political communities govern their relations with animals? Are animals owed justice? What might justice for animals involve? Alasdair Cochrane introduces the most prominent schools in contemporary political theory 6 utilitarianism, liberalism, communitarianism, Marxism and feminism 6 and examines their implications for issues such as meat-eating, intensive agriculture, animal experimentation, religious slaughter and hunting. An Introduction to Animals and Political Theory explores the debates and discusses controversies over what makes an entity worthy of justice: is it rationality, the ability to contribute to society, sentience, or something else? It also introduces and engages with debates about what our political obligations to animals might entail: is it simply not to cause them unnecessary suffering, or do we have much more demanding obligations not to kill, own, or even use non-human animals? How should political communities govern their relations with animals? Are animals owed justice? What might justice for animals involve? In this book the author introduces the most prominent schools in contemporary political theory such as utilitarianism, liberalism, communitarianism, Marxism and feminism, and examines their implications for issues such as meat-eating, intensive agriculture, animal experimentation, religious slaughter and hunting. The book explores the debates and discusses controversies over what makes an entity worthy of justice: is it rationality, the ability to contribute to society, sentience, or something else? It also introduces and engages with debates about what our political obligations to animals might entail: is it simply not to cause them unnecessary suffering, or do we have much more demanding obligations not to kill, own, or even use non-human animals? Front Matter....Pages i-viii Introduction: Animals and Political Theory....Pages 1-9 Animals in the History of Political Thought....Pages 10-28 Utilitarianism and Animals....Pages 29-49 Liberalism and Animals....Pages 50-71 Communitarianism and Animals....Pages 72-92 Marxism and Animals....Pages 93-114 Feminism and Animals....Pages 115-135 Conclusions....Pages 136-146 Back Matter....Pages 147-167