A Cross Cultural Introduction to Bioethics is an introductory text book in bioethics aimed at highschool level students. Broad topics covered include: Environmental Ethics, Genetics, Medical Ethics, Reproduction Neurosciences and Social Ethics. Within each of these topics are pages that introduce and explain the issues involved. For example there will be a page introducing vegetarianism […]
Category: Biology
Philosophy for Teens
Title: Philosophy for Teens: Ideas and Ideals Editors: Grispino, Joseph A. Publisher: Third Millennium Publishing Date: 2005 ISBN: 1-932657-38-X NOTES: Philosophy for Teens was written for American high school students. It can be used either directly by students or as a guide for teachers. Although some of the references are uniquely American (e.g. republican/democrat, civics […]
The Five Freedoms
Title: The Five Freedoms Location: http://rnzspca.org.nz/animal-care/important-reading/the-five-freedoms Should animals be given freedoms? This article presents five freedoms that are important for animals. Teachers might use the list to get students thinking about whether or not animals should be entitled to freedoms, and what might be done to protect them.
Unesco Bioethics Neuroscience memory
UNESCO Bioethics. Neuroscience – learning to remember. Chapter F2, Learning to remember: the biological basis of memory. Quite a lot of advanced biological explanantions, but could be simplified, followed by excellent thought provoking questions in each section. Covers: biological basis of memory formation, memories and emotions, Alzheimers disease and screening tests, possibility of future memory […]
The Philosophers Zone Darwinian Aesthetics
Denis Dutton discusses his Darwinian theory of the origin of the arts. The first ten minutes is a general discussion about the relevance of Darwinian theory on our day to day life. After that, Dutton details an account of why the creation of art could be an evolutionary adaptation. Topics discussed: Art as a fitness […]
What the Bleep do we know
Title: What the Bleep Do We Know? 2004 Hopscotch Entertainment This documentary follows the story of a woman who starts to question the nature of reality. It also contains many interviews with scientists, philosophers and spiritual figures. It links quantum physics with modern-day spirituality. Clip 1: ‘What is Reality: a philosopher’s question’ This clip explores […]
Why Its Wrong to Test on Animals
This accessible article presents some arguments against animal testing. It also links, throughout, to articles on related topics. The author argues that ‘vivisection is antithetical to animal rights because animals have a right to be free from experimentation, imprisonment, and killing.’ She details the relationship between animal experimentation and human progress, and suggests that ‘[j]ust […]
The Moral Status of Animals by Lori Gruen
The introduction to this article provides a succinct entry-point into current debates on animal ethics. It raises questions concerning the sources of our obligations to other species, and details the various stances that philosophers take in relation to the differences that exist between humans and animals. While the article itself is challenging, teachers might find […]
The Meatrix
‘The Meatrix is all around you. It is the story we tell ourselves about where meat and animal products come from.’ These audio visual clips provide an accessible entry-point into discussions relating to animal ethics. By exposing some of the practices of those corporations that deal in animal products, the clips force those watching them […]
The Future in Your Hands
This short documentary introduces a range of issues relating to animal welfare. Unlike most of the audio visual material that exists relating to animal ethics, this clip does not contain very many unsettling images…