Philosophical Foundations of Animal Rights with Prof. Lori Gruen
What are alternative approaches to traditional ethics?
Happy International Animal Rights Day!
Animal Rights Day is celebrated on the same day as Human Rights Day (December 10). This is meant to draw attention to the parallels between human and animal rights. Animal Rights Day was first observed in 1998 — the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Which brings us to week 3 of our course — what are the philosophical foundations of animal rights?
Week 3: Philosophical Foundations of Animal Rights
Here’s what we will cover in Week 3:
Exploration of major philosophical theories' influences on animal rights,
Critical analysis of moral arguments and ethical considerations, and
Alternative approaches to traditional ethics.
For this lesson, we have engaged Prof. Lori Gruen, a leading scholar in this area.
Lori Gruen is the William Griffin Professor of Philosophy and Professor of Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and Science in Society at Wesleyan University, where she also coordinates Wesleyan Animal Studies.
Her work lies at the intersection of ethical and political theory and practice, with a particular focus on issues that impact those often overlooked in traditional ethical investigations, e.g. women, people of colour, incarcerated people, and non-human animals.
She is a Fellow of the Hastings Center for Bioethics, a Faculty Fellow at Tufts’ Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine’s Center for Animals and Public Policy and was the first chair of the Faculty Advisory Committee of the Center for Prison Education at Wesleyan.
In week 3 of the course, Lori Gruen will explore the philosophical foundations of animal rights, examining key moral theories that shape the discourse on animals' legal status and treatment. She will guide participants through classical and contemporary philosophical perspectives, analysing their influence on Animal Rights Law and policy. Participants will engage with critiques of traditional theories and explore alternative approaches to understanding animal rights.
Lori Gruen has been a long-term expert and thought leader in this field. For instance, here's a video of her 10 years ago where she discusses the Politics of Species
How can I sign up for this course?
You can sign up here: www.icare-animals.org/ciarl-course (we have 2 spots left).
Where can I find more information about this course?
You can read our previous Substack posts, or go straight to our website. Our course booklet is available for download here.
Connect with us on social media:
Follow us in your favourite social media platform to stay updated on everything we are doing to advance animal rights law and ethics. ICARE is active on
Here’s what you can expect:
Updates on our research, advocacy, and legal education programmes,
News about upcoming courses, seminars, and events,
Insights into our mission to reshape legal systems to protect animals.
We are building a community of passionate animal advocates, legal professionals, and academics dedicated to making a real difference for animals and their rights.
We would love for you to be part of it. Let’s connect, share ideas, and work together to create change!