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https://doi.org/10.12759/hsr.40.2015.4.70-91
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Of animals, robots and men
Von Tieren, Robotern und Menschen
[journal article]
Abstract Domesticated animals need to be treated as fellow citizens: Only if we conceive of domesticated animals as full members of our political communities can we do justice to their moral standing - or so Sue Donaldson and Will Kymlicka argue in their widely discussed book Zoopolis. In this contribution, ... view more
Domesticated animals need to be treated as fellow citizens: Only if we conceive of domesticated animals as full members of our political communities can we do justice to their moral standing - or so Sue Donaldson and Will Kymlicka argue in their widely discussed book Zoopolis. In this contribution, we pursue two objectives. Firstly, we will reject Donaldson and Kymlicka's appeal for animal citizenship. We will do so by submitting that far from paying due heed to their moral status, regarding animals as citizens misinterprets their moral qualities and thus risks treating them unjustly. Secondly, we will suggest that Donaldson and Kymlicka's reinforced focus on membership should draw our attention to the moral standing of a further "species" living in our midst, namely robots. Developments within artificial intelligence have advanced rapidly in recent years. With robots gaining ever greater capacities and abilities, we need to ask urgent questions about the moral ramifications of these technical advances.... view less
Keywords
natural law; rights and responsibilities; animal protection; artificial intelligence; social relations; morality; politics; ethics; robot; law; human being; animal
Classification
Philosophy, Ethics, Religion
Basic Research, General Concepts and History of Political Science
Document language
English
Publication Year
2015
Page/Pages
p. 70-91
Journal
Historical Social Research, 40 (2015) 4
Issue topic
Animal politics: a new research agenda in political theory
ISSN
0172-6404
Status
Published Version; peer reviewed