From Theologial Speciesism to a Theological Ethology: Where Catholic Moral Theology Needs to Go

Catholic moral theology – consciously or unconsciously – has paid very little attention to the consideration of the moral import of non-human animals and, by default, has established itself as a “speciesist” discipline by its practitioners. This essay breaks down common hesitations to engage in anim...

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Main Author: John Berkman
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: The Journal of Moral Theology, Inc. 2014-06-01
Series:Journal of Moral Theology
Online Access:https://jmt.scholasticahq.com/article/11265-from-theologial-speciesism-to-a-theological-ethology-where-catholic-moral-theology-needs-to-go
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author John Berkman
author_facet John Berkman
author_sort John Berkman
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description Catholic moral theology – consciously or unconsciously – has paid very little attention to the consideration of the moral import of non-human animals and, by default, has established itself as a “speciesist” discipline by its practitioners. This essay breaks down common hesitations to engage in animal ethics, examines prime work on the subfield – paragraphs 2145-2418 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church – as well as Albert the Great’s thoughts; and proposes a transformation of speciesism to ethology, considering seriously the possible goods – natural and supernatural – inherent in non-human animal nature.
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spelling doaj.art-aec1b29b9a91444ca81b5a5c5ebc60b82024-09-12T22:46:39ZengThe Journal of Moral Theology, Inc.Journal of Moral Theology2166-28512166-21182014-06-0132From Theologial Speciesism to a Theological Ethology: Where Catholic Moral Theology Needs to GoJohn BerkmanCatholic moral theology – consciously or unconsciously – has paid very little attention to the consideration of the moral import of non-human animals and, by default, has established itself as a “speciesist” discipline by its practitioners. This essay breaks down common hesitations to engage in animal ethics, examines prime work on the subfield – paragraphs 2145-2418 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church – as well as Albert the Great’s thoughts; and proposes a transformation of speciesism to ethology, considering seriously the possible goods – natural and supernatural – inherent in non-human animal nature.https://jmt.scholasticahq.com/article/11265-from-theologial-speciesism-to-a-theological-ethology-where-catholic-moral-theology-needs-to-go
spellingShingle John Berkman
From Theologial Speciesism to a Theological Ethology: Where Catholic Moral Theology Needs to Go
Journal of Moral Theology
title From Theologial Speciesism to a Theological Ethology: Where Catholic Moral Theology Needs to Go
title_full From Theologial Speciesism to a Theological Ethology: Where Catholic Moral Theology Needs to Go
title_fullStr From Theologial Speciesism to a Theological Ethology: Where Catholic Moral Theology Needs to Go
title_full_unstemmed From Theologial Speciesism to a Theological Ethology: Where Catholic Moral Theology Needs to Go
title_short From Theologial Speciesism to a Theological Ethology: Where Catholic Moral Theology Needs to Go
title_sort from theologial speciesism to a theological ethology where catholic moral theology needs to go
url https://jmt.scholasticahq.com/article/11265-from-theologial-speciesism-to-a-theological-ethology-where-catholic-moral-theology-needs-to-go
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