2009/11/12 by Alasdair Cochrane · 2 citations
Social Sciences · Arts and Humanities · Neuroscience · #Political Philosophy and Ethics #Philosophical Ethics and Theory #Free Will and Agency
paper · pdf · doi:10.1017/s0953820809990203
openalex publication_date 2009/11/12 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/02
This article argues that it is not necessary to abolish all incidents of animal ownership in order to achieve justice for them. It claims that ownership does not grant owners a right to absolute control of their property. Rather, it argues that ownership is a much more qualified concept, conveying different rights in different contexts. With this understanding of ownership in mind, the article argues that it is possible for humans to own animals and at the same time to treat them justly: to recognize that they possess moral status; to assign them meaningful rights; and to consider their interests equally.