Disembodied... Never Disengaged!
Philosophy, Politics and Society, all in one place.
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International Monkey Business: Animal Rights and International Ethics
Posted on October 13th, 2009 No commentsBefore the failed attempt at a League of Nations and the creation of the United Nations, philosopher John Stuart Mill recognized that international relations was not just an empirical study, but a normative one. He tells us that a fundamental goal of philosophers should be to formulate “some rule or criterion whereby the justifiableness of intervening in the affairs of other countries, and (what is sometimes fully as questionable) the justifiableness of refraining from intervention, may be brought to a definite and rational test.”[1] This call clearly does not limit itself to a discussion of interference based on human interests, and as such is a legitimate endeavor in regard to all individuals within the moral arena, including animals. Here I will outline a few of the initial difficulties that arise in producing an international ethic that accounts for animals in order to contextualize the basic framework that will follow. This sketch, then, will work as the first step towards an international ethic incorporating not only human beings but non-human animals.
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Violent Interpretations: Nietzsche’s Take on Environmentalism
Posted on February 18th, 2009 No commentsAccording to “European” existentialist Friedrich Nietzsche “our whole attitude toward nature today is hubris, our raping of nature by means of machines and the unthinking resourcefulness of technicians and engineers” (Geneaology sec. 3.9). Despite this seemingly explicit call for a radical environmental ethic, his philosophy has continually been criticized as “elitist” and, in the eyes of the ecologically embraced Martin Heidegger, Nietzsche’s philosophizing represents the culmination of metaphysical thinking, one which is subjectivistic, anthropocentric and voluntaristic and that affirms technological domination of the natural world (Hallman 99). Against these contradictory claims about one of the world’s most influential philosophers it seems important to explore Nietzsche’s contributions to the human-nature debate and bring together both the use and abuse of Nietzsche for environmental ethics. This task will take place in three main sections – first, an exploration of Nietzsche’s rejection of metaphysics and “grounding” of the human being; second, by exploring the concept of the “will to power;” and, finally, through reexamining Nietzsche’s most controversial concept, the ubermensch.
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The Ethic of Life: Process Philosophy and Environmental Stewardship
Posted on February 17th, 2009 No commentsAccording to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, “when we view reality in terms of dependent origination… [i]t challenges us to see things and events less in terms of black and white and more in terms of a complex interlinking of relationships” (41). Dependent origination, and process philosophy in general, forces us to look beyond the egoism and anthropocentrism so rampant in our world today and instead recognize the intrinsic value of all life. This recognition is more than just an intellectual endeavor, however, as it must become a driving force behind a new ethical system, an ethic of life. If events are defined by relationships and if relationships are defined by life, then the entirety of the world and of our own, individual experiences are predicated upon life existing. By exploring the notion of dependent origination and process philosophy’s take on life, I will begin an investigation of a new ethical system. This ethical system will certainly apply to all parts of our lives, but I will specifically look at the impact on environmental ethics and animal rights in order to give a perception of just how much of a change this process ethic would be from our current system.
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Escaping International Anarchy: Reconceptualizing the Ethics of World Politics
Posted on February 17th, 2009 No commentsThe creation of Presidential Decision Directive 25 by President Bill Clinton in 1993, and the continuance of the directive under George W. Bush has brought to bear a real conundrum for those interested in international relations, and particularly the ethics of international relations. This Directive, which aimed to reform US involvement in international peacekeeping by making involvement dependent upon there being “vital interests” at stake effectively allows the US to avoid intervening in humanitarian crises abroad. While it may not be the only initiative that takes a step away from an international ethic it may well be the pinnacle of the problem. (Burkhalter) It is because the world at large has almost completely forgotten its promise to not let grave atrocities like the Holocaust happen again that a formulation of international ethics is now so important. Absent a workable morality nation-states will continue to work under the guise solely of ‘national interest’ and be justified in doing so. Therefore, the aim here is to first examine the current state of international affairs from an ethical viewpoint, then establish a normative theory with the aim of providing a workable solution to the problems associated with the current system. Finally, it will be important to defend this new normative theory against alternative theories and against general opposition to ensure that it won’t fall victim to the international community’s egoism like previous theories seemingly have.