Anthropological concerns in the work of Tristram Engelhardt
Published:
Jun 3, 2024
Keywords:
Tristram Engelhardt Jr.; Ethics; Moral Value; Self-consciousness; Animals; Animality; Secularism; Bioethics
Abstract
This essay presents and analyzes the two primary approaches of H. Tristram Engelhardt, Jr. regarding animality and the human condition. The first approach examines non-rational animals stricto sensu, where Engelhardt is known for rejecting animal rights in favor of human moral superiority based on secular and Kantian arguments. The second approach explores the "ontological self-degradation" of humanity within modern, pleasure-oriented culture. Engelhardt suggests that by rejecting metaphysical inquiry and the transcendent, postmodern humanity increasingly embraces its "lower nature," effectively becoming a "consuming species" or a merely sentient animal. The author reconstructs Engelhardt’s arguments for the use of animals in experimentation while utilizing Ronald Dworkin’s concepts of "sacredness" and "critical interests" to offer a more nuanced perspective on the value of nature and human dignity. Finally, the essay notes that this return to animality may be challenged by global crises, such as climate change and demographic shifts, which force a confrontation with communal and existential questions.
Article Details
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Chorianopoulou, M. K. (2024). Anthropological concerns in the work of Tristram Engelhardt . Ηθική. Περιοδικό φιλοσοφίας, (18), 28–36. https://doi.org/10.12681/ethiki.37986
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