Abstract
Moral psychology is often ignored in ethical theory, making applied ethics difficult to achieve in practice. This is particularly true in the new field of animal ethics. One key feature of moral psychology is recognition of the moral primacy of those with whom we enjoy relationships of love and friendship – philia in Aristotle’s term. Although a radically new ethic for animal treatment is emerging in society, its full expression is severely limited by our exploitative uses of animals. At this historical moment, only the animals with whom we enjoy philia – companion animals – can be treated with unrestricted moral concern. This ought to be accomplished, both for its own sake and as an ideal model for the future evolution of animal ethics.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, in R. McKeon (ed.), The Basic Works of Aristotle, New York: Random House, 1972.
Edel, A., Aristotle and his Philosophy. Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Press, 1982.
Harrison, R., Animal Machines. London: Vincent Stuart, 1964.
Hume, D., in L.A. Selby-Bigge (ed.), A Treatise of Human Nature, 1963 Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1739.
Rollin, B.E., Animal Rights and Human Morality. Buffalo, NY: Prometheus Books, 1981.
Katcher, A. and Beck, A., New Perspectives on Our Lives With Companion Animals, Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1983.
Katz, J., The New Work of Dogs, New York: Random House, 2003.
Rollin, B.E., There is Only One Categorical Imperative, Kant-Studien 67(1) (1976), pp. 60–72.
Rollin, B.E., The Unheeded Cry: Animal Consciousness, Animal Pain and Science. Oxford: Oxford University Press. (Second Edition Iowa State University Press, 1998), 1989.
Rollin, B.E., Veterinary Medical Ethics: Theory and Cases. Ames Iowa: Iowa State University Press, 1999.
Rollin, B.E. and Rollin, M.D.H., Dogmatisms and Catechisms – Ethics and Companion Animals, Anthrozoos 14(1) (2001), pp. 4–11.
Rollin, B.E., Ethics, Animal Welfare, and ACUCs, in J.P. Gluck, T. DiPasquale and F.B. Orlans (eds.), Applied Ethics in Animal Research: Philosophy, Regulation and Laboratory Applications}. West Lafayette, Indiana: Purdue University Press, 2002, pp. 113–131.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Rollin, B.E. Reasonable Partiality and Animal Ethics. Ethic Theory Moral Prac 8, 105–121 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10677-005-3297-1
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10677-005-3297-1