Ethics of animal use /

Summary: Publisher Summary 1 Intended as a textbook for teaching animal ethics at the university level in veterinary and animal science courses, this volume takes a pluralist approach to animal ethics rather than defending or presenting one specific perspective. The authors (a professor of bioethics and a doctoral student at the U. of Copenhagen, Denmark) include five views about our duties to animals, three views about what makes for a good animal life, and a number of hybrids. The first four chapters serve a general survey of the subject of animal ethics in veterinary and animal science, while the remaining papers focus on the following issues: the use of animals in food production, controlling animals with infectious diseases, the use of animals in experiments, companion animals, animal breeding and biotechnology, and management and use of wild animals. Annotation 漏2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)   Publisher Summary 2 An interesting and accessible introduction to ethical issues raised by various forms of human use of animals. This textbook avoids moral lecturing and presents a range of ethical viewpoints without defending or applying any specific stance. Readers are encouraged and provoked to reflect for themselves, and to sharpen their own points of view regarding the ethical limits on our use of animals. They will also gain further understanding of the views held by other people. Early chapters of this interdisciplinary book cover changes over time in our view of animals, the principles of animal ethics, and different views of what counts as a good animal life. Later chapters apply the conceptual tools to specific issues including: food animal production, advanced veterinary treatment of pets, control of infectious diseases, wildlife management, as well as the use of animals in research. Specifically designed for students of veterinary medicine, animal science, welfare and behaviour, and veterinary nursing. Also of interest to those wanting to combine an up-to-date, science-based account of animal issues with clear-headed moral reflection. "The book covers an impressive range of topics with accuracy and fairness. Despite its ambitious scope, the authors have achieved remarkable unity in the book, and have produced a book that is easy and pleasant to read. Their work will surely provide a major tool for rationalizing the debate about the ethics of animal use, and I commend them for their invaluable contribution." From the Foreword by Professor Bernard Rollin, Colorado State University.