EdX

Introduction to Animal Ethics (edX)

Offered by Kyoto University, KyotoUx,
Introduction to Animal Ethics (edX)

Learn about what ethical issues arise in human-animal relationships, and how to think about such issues systematically. The course utilizes Manga as a study aid. Why do many of us who eat pigs condemn those who eat dogs? Is there any difference between lab mice and companion hamsters that justify the use of the former for drug tests? Our attitude toward animals is full of seeming inconsistencies and unexplained conventions.

Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see EdX's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.

Animal ethics is the field that tries to make sense of human-animal relationships using insights from philosophical ethics, and this course is an introduction to the field.

This course has several distinctive characteristics from other animal ethics education materials. First, this course uses situations of animals in Japan as illustrative cases, which makes this course as a means to learn something about Japanese culture. Second, it also uses Manga to think about actual situations.
By listening to the lectures and thinking through the issues presented, you will acquire the ability to think more clearly and systematically about human-animal relationships.

Topics include:

  • Training of companion animals
  • Neutering of companion animals
  • Animal experimentation for cosmetics
  • Eating farm animals
  • Environmental enrichment in zoos

What you'll learn

  • Systematic thinking about ethical issues related to human-animal relationship
  • Basic principles for the treatment of companion animals
  • The idea of animal welfare and its application for animal experimentation
  • Controversies over farm animals
  • Controversies over zoo animals
  • Philosophical debate over speciesism and animal rights

Syllabus

Week 1: Training of Companion Animals

  • What is Animal Ethics?
  • Companion Animals
  • Problem Behaviors of Companion Animals
  • Is it Egotistical to Make Animals Obey?

Week 2: Neutering of Companion Animals

  • Background of Slaughtering System of Companion Animals in Japan
  • The Current State of the Slaughtering System
  • Neutering Companion Animals
  • Pros and Cons of Neutering Animals

Week 3: Animal Experimentation for Cosmetics

  • Current Status of Animal Testing in Japan
  • The 3R movement
  • Ban of Animal Testing for Cosmetics in Europe
  • Are Animal Test Regulations Necessary?

Week 4: Eating farm animals

  • Intensive Livestock Industry in Japan
  • “Five Freedoms” of livestock animals
  • Vegetarianism
  • Farm animals and lab animals: are they different?
  • Does Being Thankful Mean We can Do Whatever We Want?

Week 5: Environmental Enrichment in Zoos

  • Zoos in Japan
  • Display Animals and Environmental Enrichment
  • Animal Rights and Confinement of Animals
  • Are Great Apes Different?
  • Being Consistent about Treatment of Various Animals
Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

Zoologia (edX) EdX
University of Naples Federico II,FedericaX

Zoologia (edX)

Sci: Biology & Life Sciences

Comprendere gli animali e i sistemi naturali, attraverso il filo conduttore dell’evoluzione. Un viaggio da percorrere con l’entusiasmo di un bambino e la professionalità di uno studioso. La zoologia è la conoscenza degli animali, i nostri coinquilini. Ci sono centinaia di specie animali che interagiscono insieme a noi in una relazione di comunità o ecosistema. Questo corso di Zoologia è una passeggiata nei temi propri della materia come elemento culturale essenziale per il biologo, il naturalista e chiunque si occupi della vita.

Self Paced
Self-Paced
Biology Zoology Nature
Details
Behavioral Neuroscience: Foundations of Compulsive Behaviors (edX) EdX
University of Alaska Fairbanks,AlaskaX

Behavioral Neuroscience: Foundations of Compulsive Behaviors (edX)

Sci: Biology & Life Sciences Health & Society

The first MOOC to teach behavioral neuroscience research using laboratory mice. Learn responsible conduct of research and how to collect scientific data using two different tests that measure compulsions, and interpret and discuss the results in the context of obsessive-compulsive disorder in humans.

Self Paced
Self-Paced
Neuroscience Ethics Animal Research
Details
Responsible Innovation: Ethics, Safety and Technology (edX) EdX
Delft University of Technology,DelftX

Responsible Innovation: Ethics, Safety and Technology (edX)

Engineering Sci: Energy & Earth Sciences

How to deal with risks and ethical questions raised by development of new technologies. There is no doubt that technological innovation is one of the key elements driving human progress. However, new technologies also raise ethical questions, have serious implications for society and the environment and pose new risks, often unknown and unknowable before the new technologies reach maturity.

This course is archived
5-12 Weeks
Risk Ethics Technology
Details
Areas of Social Work Practice (edX) EdX
University of Alaska Fairbanks,AlaskaX

Areas of Social Work Practice (edX)

Social Sciences

This course will orient the learner to the context for social work, including the diversity of human needs, human services, social policy, and legislation. Learners will also gain information about social services, social programs, and career opportunities within rural and urban Alaska, as well as nationally.

Self Paced
Self-Paced
Ethics Poverty Mental Health
Details
Human-Computer Interaction III: Ethics, Needfinding & Prototyping (edX) EdX
Georgia Institute of Technology,GTx

Human-Computer Interaction III: Ethics, Needfinding & Prototyping (edX)

Computer Science

Build on your knowledge of HCI’s core principles by learning to design interfaces in the real world. Begin with the ethics of human subjects research, then learn critical methods for requirements gathering and brainstorming design alternatives. In this course, you’ll begin by learning the design life cycle. This is the process by which we investigate user needs, brainstorm potential designs, create prototypes, and evaluate those prototypes. This life cycle provides the structure for the third and fourth courses in this professional certificate.

Self Paced
Self-Paced
Prototyping Ethics Human-Computer
Details
Introduction to Corporate Sustainability, Social Innovation and Ethics (edX) EdX
Imperial College Business School

Introduction to Corporate Sustainability, Social Innovation and Ethics (edX)

Social Sciences Business

An introduction to the topic of sustainability from three perspectives: corporate sustainability, business ethics and social innovation. Sustainability is one of the key issues facing today’s society. This is underlined by the increasing attention on sustainability issues by governments, media, academics and industry.

Self Paced
Self-Paced
Sustainability Ethics Social Innovation
Details
Introduction to Human Resources (HR) leadership and HR management strategies (edX) EdX
Stellenbosch University,StellenboschX

Introduction to Human Resources (HR) leadership and HR management strategies (edX)

Management & Leadership Business

This introductory course will introduce the learner to ‘strategic HR’ as a key, value-adding function in the organization – helping it to achieve its business objectives. It will unpack key concepts from a strategic HR point of view, such as ‘ethics and governance’, ‘HR risk management’ and a ‘digital HR strategy’. Finally, it will consider the future of work and what a global HR strategy entails.

Self Paced
Self-Paced
Ethics Leadership Human Resources
Details