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149Review of Gary Varner, Personhood, Ethics, and Animal Cognition: Situating Animals in Hare’s Two-Level Utilitarianism (review)Environmental Values 22 (3): 417-420. 2013.With his 1998 book, In Nature’s Interests? Gary Varner proved to be one of our most original and trenchant of environmental ethicists. Here, in the first of a promised two volume set, he makes his mark on another field, animal ethics, leaving an even deeper imprint. Thoroughly grounded in the relevant philosophical and scientific literatures, Varner is as precise in analysis as he is wide-ranging in scope. His writing is clear and rigorous, and he explains philosophical nuances with extraordinar…Read more
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139How not to attack animal rights from an environmental perspectiveBetween the Species 4 (3): 7. 1988.
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127Connecting Ethical Reasoning to Global Challenges through Analysis of ArgumentationJournal of Microbiology and Biology Education 24 (1). 2023.Scientific literacy is built on critical thinking. The postbaccalaureate workforce enhances our economies and societies by contributing a wealth of knowledge and skill sets to local communities, respective industries, and beyond as our world becomes increasingly interconnected. Education in scientific literacy should teach students how to learn about science and how to cultivate and communicate a positive attitude about science. Learners in a 200-level nonmajors biotechnology course engaged with…Read more
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94Research Ethics: A philosophical guide to the responsible conduct of researchCambridge University Press. 2013.Education in the responsible conduct of research typically takes the form of online instructions about rules, regulations, and policies. Research Ethics takes a novel approach and emphasizes the art of philosophical decision-making. Part A introduces egoism and explains that it is in the individual's own interest to avoid misconduct, fabrication of data, plagiarism and bias. Part B explains contractualism and covers issues of authorship, peer review and responsible use of statistics. Part C intr…Read more
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64The Philosophers’ Brief on Elephant PersonhoodNew York State Appellate Court. 2020.We submit this brief in support of the Nonhuman Rights Project’s efforts to secure habeas corpus relief for the elephant named Happy. We reject arbitrary distinctions that deny adequate protections to other animals who share with protected humans relevantly similar vulnerabilities to harms and relevantly similar interests in avoiding such harms. We strongly urge this Court, in keeping with the best philosophical standards of rational judgment and ethical standards of justice, to recognize that,…Read more
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47Review of Dale Jamieson, "Morality's Progress: Essays on Humans, Other Animals, and the Rest of Nature" (review)Philosophical Review 114 (3): 416-419. 2005.
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42Religious Autobiographies (edited book)Cengage. 2003.A copy of the book is available from my website.
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40The costs and benefits of bGH may not be distributed fairlyJournal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics 4 (2): 121-130. 1991.
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39Ethical and environmental considerations in the release of herbicide resistant cropsAgriculture and Human Values 9 (3): 31-43. 1992.Recent advances in molecular genetics, plant physiology, and biochemistry have opened up the new biotechnology of herbicide resistant crops (HRCs). Herbicide resistant crops have been characterized as the solution for many environmental problems associated with modern crop production, being described as powerful tools for farmers that may increase production options. We are concerned that these releases are occurring in the absence of forethought about their impact on agroecosystems, the broader…Read more
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38Genetically engineered herbicide resistance, part twoJournal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics 3 (2): 114-146. 1990.Should we continue to support publicly funded research on genetically engineered herbicide resistant crops? In Part One, I discussed the difference between science and ethics, presented a brief history of weed control, and explained three moral principles undergirding my environmentalist perspective. I then argued that unqualified endorsement (E) of the research is unjustified, as is unqualified opposition (O). In Part Two, I argue against qualified endorsement (QE), and for qualified opposition…Read more
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35Intuitive level system rules: Commentary on “utilitarianism and the evolution of ecological ethics”Science and Engineering Ethics 14 (4): 575-579. 2008.
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30Do agriculturalists need a new, an ecocentric, ethic? 1994 Presidential address to the agriculture, food, and human values societyAgriculture and Human Values 12 (1): 2-16. 1995.In 1973, Richard Sylvan began his seminal essay, "Do We Need a New, an Environmental Ethic?" with these words: "It is increasingly said that ... Western civilization ... stands in need of a new ethic ... setting out people's relations to the natural environment." In the intervening years, it has increasingly been said that Western civilization is in need of ecocentrism, an ethic according to which a thing's value is derived from its contribution to the integrity, stability, and beauty of ecosyst…Read more
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25Genetically engineered herbicide resistance, part oneJournal of Agricultural Ethics 2 (4): 263-306. 1989.
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16An extensionist environmental ethicIn N. Cooper & R. C. J. Carling (eds.), Ecologists and Ethical Judgements, Springer. pp. 43-53. 1996.Environmental ethics consists of a set of competing theories about whether human actions and attitudes to nature are morally right or wrong. Ecocentrists are holists whose theory locates the primary site of value in biological communities or ecosystems and who tend to regard actions interfering with the progress of an ecosystem toward its mature equilibrium state as prima facie wrong. I suggest that this form of ecocentrism may be built on a questionable scientific foundation, organismic ecology…Read more
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12Two Types of Narrative TheologyJournal of the American Academy of Religion 55 (4): 687-717. 1987.This paper argues that there are two camps in narrative theology, "pure" (e.g., Hans Frei) and "impure" (e.g., Paul Ricoeur) narrative theologians. Narrative theology, reflection on religious claims embedded in stories, is one of the most significant currents of late twentieth century thought. H. Richard Niebuhr initiated the conversation when he wrote in 1941 of "The Story of Our Lives." If his theme lay undeveloped for several decades, it burst onto the theological scene in the early 1970s. …Read more
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12Against Transgenic AnimalsIn Vexing nature?, Springer Us. pp. 95-138. 2000.When I wrote “The Case Against bGH” in the late 1980s, I enjoyed eating meat, enjoyed serving it to my family, and believed one could simultaneously defend traditional family farms and the welfare of animals. Shortly after finishing that article, I read again, and more carefully, Tom Regan’s The Case for Animal Rights. 2 Regan’s arguments challenged my presuppositions.
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11Everything depends on the type of the concepts that the interpretation is made to convey: Max kadushin among the narrative theologiansModern Theology 5 (3): 215-237. 1989.
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11Is there a moral obligation to save the family farm? (edited book)Iowa State University. 1969.Essays cover U.S. farm policy, the current plight of the small farmer, the history of the family farm, and the ethical, and financial issues
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10Truth or meaning: Ricoeur versus Frei on biblical narrativeHTS Theological Studies 45 (4). 1989.
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10Introduction: Might Morality Require Veganism?Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics 71 (1): 1-6. 1994.
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8The Iowa State University Model Bioethics InstitutesBulletin of Science, Technology and Society 19 (4): 323-328. 1999.How should universities help their life science faculty members to integrate discussions of ethics into their courses? The Iowa State University Model Bio-ethics Institutes offer one model.
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8Against Ag BiotechIn Vexing Nature?, Springer Us. pp. 139-173. 2000.When Francis Bacon declared his intent to torment and interfere with nature, he probably did not envision sickly experimental hogs with human genes. But the Baconian desire to understand nature and place “her” at our command has entrenched itself in our collective psyche, and the bioengineering epoch has enabled us to impose our desires in ways Bacon could not have imagined. In so doing, have we stepped over the bounds of decency?
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8Problems for the Case Against Ag Biotech, Part I: Intrinsic ObjectionsIn , Springer Us. pp. 175-224. 2000.I worked for many years constructing my version of the global case but, as I continued to try to strengthen it, I slowly began to lose confidence. My unease began with several personal experiences. One of our children had a common but annoying physical ailment, for which our pediatrician prescribed a very expensive nasal spray. When I inquired about its cost, the pharmacist informed me that it was a new, genetically engineered, product. The spray worked, and Karen and I never batted an eye.
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7Against Herbicide ResistanceIn Vexing nature?, Springer Us. pp. 35-93. 2000.I pulled weeds out of half-mile rows of soybeans on grandma and grandpa’s farm long before I heard of the controversy surrounding herbicide resistance and genetic engineering. Twenty years ago, Gordie, Richard, Greg, and I “walked beans,” not knowing that our fists and scythes were not the only means available to Grandpa for killing weeds. We knew little then about uprooting thistles with tractors and discs or about spraying chemicals onto mustard. We knew only that a cool thermos of lemonade an…Read more
University of Chicago
PhD, 1983
APA Eastern Division
Raleigh, North Carolina, United States of America
Areas of Specialization
Value Theory |
Applied Ethics |
Areas of Interest
Philosophy of Mind |
Persons |
Animal Rights |
Philosophy of Consciousness |
Human Nature |