Theses and Dissertations

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The othering of pets: Palmer, Plumwood, and pet technology ethics
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2019) Forrest, Marielle, author; McShane, Katie, advisor; Shockley, Kenneth, committee member; Grandin, Temple, committee member
In Chapter 1, I explore some of the central theories in the field of animal ethics, those by: Peter Singer, Tom Regan, Martha Nussbaum, and Clare Palmer. I also examine the views of Stephen Budiansky and Gary Francione in conversation with one another to consider the wrongfulness of domestication. In Chapter 2, I provide a brief historical account of pet-keeping. I then look at our current practices of keeping pets and in what ways these practices are or can be harmful. Finally, I argue that there are more subtle ways that we indirectly harm our pets, that is, through 'othering attitudes' (of polarization, homogenization, backgrounding, assimilation, and instrumentalism). These attitudes can invite harm to our pets, particularly in light of their social needs. In Chapter 3, I consider seven animal-computer interactions (ACI) and see in what ways our pets can benefit from or be harmed by them. I argue that these technologies reinforce, rather than eliminate, attitudes of othering and can, in this way, be harmful. Still, with moderation, a loving eye, and a spirit of "critical anthropomorphism," we can use ACI responsibly.