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Animal Epistemology and Ethics in Schopenhauerian Metaphysics.
- Source :
-
Environmental Ethics . Fall2013, Vol. 35 Issue 3, p349-361. 13p. - Publication Year :
- 2013
-
Abstract
- Within Arthur Schopenhauer's pessimistic philosophy he set aside a special place for animals. Not only did Schopenhauer show great affection for other species and repeatedly criticize Western anthropocentrism, but he also argued that we could know a great deal about animals by intimately knowing ourselves. Although currently underdeveloped, Schopenhauer's intro-spective methodology sheds light on how we can begin to mend the epistemic human-animal boundary through his emphasis on immediate, concrete knowledge and intuition. In practice too, Schopenhauer's metaphysically grounded ethical system of compassion offers an alter-native to both utilitarianism and deontology to bridge the human-animal moral boundary. For Schopenhauer, if a person recognizes the identical, underlying substance of their self and the animal kingdom, he or she will extend loving kindness and justice to all creatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- *THEORY of knowledge
*ANIMALS (Philosophy)
*UTILITARIANISM
*PHILOSOPHY of mind
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 01634275
- Volume :
- 35
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Environmental Ethics
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 92982475