Animals: Rights and Wrongs



Overview

This day school will introduce the basic elements of animal ethics.

Animal rights, animal welfare, the status of animals as property, and the concept of personhood (as applied to humans and nonhumans) will be discussed.

Questions asked include:

  • Are animals merely things or do they have moral value?
  • If animals have moral value, what are our moral obligations to them?
  • Is vegetarianism sufficient?
  • Is veganism required?
  • Can we justify domestication?
  • What are the implications of the status of animals as property?
  • Does (or can) the law sufficiently protect animal interests?
  • Is there any relationship between human rights and nonhuman rights?

Please note: this event will close to enrolments at 23:59 BST on 3 April 2024.

Programme details

9.45am:
Registration at Rewley House reception

10am:
Animal rights/animal welfare

11.15am:
Tea/coffee break

11.45am:
Animals as things/property or persons?

1pm:
Lunch break

2pm:
Our moral obligations to animals

3.15pm:
Tea/coffee break

3.45pm:
Human rights and nonhuman rights

5pm:
End of day

Certification

Fees

Description Costs
Course Fee (includes tea/coffee) £99.00
Baguette Lunch £6.50
Hot Lunch (3 courses) £17.60

Funding

If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit or are a full-time student in the UK you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees.

Concessionary fees for short courses

Tutors

Anna Charlton

Speaker

Anna Charlton is an attorney and was a clinical professor at Rutgers Law School in New Jersey, having co-founded the Animal Rights Law Clinic there with Gary Francione. The clinic,  where law students received academic credit for working on legal cases that involved animal issues, was the first of its kind in the United States. Francione and Charlton have also co-authored several books on animal ethics.

Gary Francione

Speaker

Gary Francione is one of the world’s leading thinkers on animal ethics and formulated what is referred to as the Abolitionist theory of animal rights. He has been teaching animal ethics from a philosophical as well as a legal perspective for almost 40 years, and he was the first academic to teach animal rights theory in an American law school. He is the author of numerous popular books in the field and has been a guest on many radio and television shows.

Application

Please use the 'Book' button on this page. Alternatively, please contact us to obtain an application form. 

Accommodation

Accommodation is not included in the price, but if you wish to stay with us the night before the course, then please contact our Residential Centre.

Accommodation in Rewley House - all bedrooms are modern, comfortably furnished and each room has tea and coffee making facilities, Freeview television, and Free WiFi and private bath or shower rooms.  Please contact our Residential Centre on +44 (0) 1865 270362 or email res-ctr@conted.ox.ac.uk for details of availability and discounted prices.

Terms & conditions for applicants and students

Information on financial support