Darwinian Dominion: Animal Welfare and Human Interests - Softcover

Petrinovich, Lewis

9780262661218: Darwinian Dominion: Animal Welfare and Human Interests

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0262661217 ISBN 13: 9780262661218

Publisher: MIT Press, 2001

The controversial subject of this book is the permissible use of animals by humans. Lewis Petrinovich argues that humans have a set of cognitive abilities, developing from a suite of emotional attachments, that make them unique among species. Although other animals can think, suffer, and have needs, the interests of members of the human species should triumph over comparable interests of members of other species.

This book is the third in a trilogy concerned with the morality of various actions that affect the birth, life, and death of organisms. Using principles of moral philosophy, biology, evolutionary theory, neurophysiology, medicine, and cognitive science, Petrinovich discusses such topics as fetal and prenatal development, development of the mind and brain, animal liberation, morality and animal research, the eating of animals, keeping animals in zoos and as pets, and the importance of biodiversity. In the epilogue, he summarizes the main issues and discusses the moral principles governing their resolution.

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About the Author:

Lewis Petrinovich is Professor of Psychology Emeritus at theUniversity of California, Riverside. He is the author of HumanEvolution, Reproduction, and Morality and Living and DyingWell (MIT Press, 1998).

Review:

Another thought-provoking and penetrating volume by Lewis Petrinovich, this time focusing his sharp Darwinian eye on evolutionary imperatives that have shaped our moral stance and behavior toward animals.

(Alan M. Steinberg, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles)

Powerfully argued and very well written.... an outstanding contribution to a difficult debate.

(Patrick Bateson, Professor of Ethology, University of Cambridge, and Provost, King's College, Cambridge)

The author brings together a deep, sensitive knowledge of contemporary evolutionary theory and the social sciences, particularly as they interact with human biology. You may not agree with everything that he concludes, but my strong suspicion is that even as you argue with Petrinovich, you will learn and revise your own opinions. Highly recommended!

(Michael Ruse, Departments of Philosophy and Zoology, University of Guelph)

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