Assignment #4: Sehon, cont.

 Finish reading Part II in Sehon and begin reading Part III.

Socialism & (nonhuman) Animals/Essay #1

Note:  comments now open!

Read:

1. Eisenman, "Socialism and Animal Liberation"

https://animalliberationcurrents.com/socialism-and-animal-liberation/

2. D' Amato, "Socialism and 'Animal Rights'"

Socialism and “animal rights” | SocialistWorker.org

Supplemental:

"Marxism and Animal Rights"
http://davidsztybel.info/x-marxar.html

A conversation with Carol Adams (author of The Sexual Politics of Meat):
http://www.farinc.org/pdfs/Hoffman%201995.pdf

Some older posts on the animals issue:

Meat-eating and "excusarianism:" http://critojazz.blogspot.com/2006/12/meat-and-excusarian-brain.html 

Vegetarianism and abortion: http://critojazz.blogspot.com/2006/10/abort-animal-rights.html 

Vegetarianism-Global warming connection: http://critojazz.blogspot.com/2007/10/vegetarianism-and-global-warming.html

Essay #1:

Compose a 2-3 pp. CRITO-based, argumentative essay following closely the guidelines as indicated in handout QA (which identifies the necessary components of a successful essay; namely, 1. the essay; 2. the outline for the essay; 3. a bibliography containing minimally one outside reference; and 4. two substantive, unanswered questions for class discussion).  (Review as necessary handouts CR1-CR3.)  

Alternatively, you may employ a different mode of presentation (fiction; dialogue; poetry, etc.).  Simply attach the other three components (i.e., outline, bibliography, and 2 questions) to the body of your creation.

Topic: (choose 1):

a. What are economic rights?

b. What is "human well-being," and how is it measured?

c. Does Sehon adequately define socialism?

d. In defining the moral point of view, what are the respective roles of utility and rights?

e. What are the implications for socialism/capitalism of the "nonagression principle"?

f. How might socialists define a "legitimate acquisition"?

g. Should socialists support animal liberation (and vice versa)?

Due date: Wednesday, October 2, in class.

Assignment #3: Sehon, Part II

Read: Chapter 4-5, Sehon.  (When we finish this section of Sehon's book, we can, if we so choose, dig more deeply into related topics, eg., historical determinism; pacifism/violence; socialism and animal liberation, etc.)

Assignment #2: Sehon, cont.

 Continue reading in our text through Part I, chapter 3.

My own view of the foundations of morality/ethics (at least in 2006):

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_Ok_EXn3Gk7B3AqmPbFxf7KtV1dpoVv_xUtF9KCSbWU/edit?usp=sharing

Assignment #1: Basic Concepts of Logic

Things to do:

1. Review the basic elements of logic:

c01.pdf (umass.edu)

2. Purchase Sehon text (and begin reading).

3. Read syllabus/handouts; raise any questions in our next class.