Animals Real and Virtual



Clark, Stephen RL ORCID: 0000-0001-9201-9013
(2016) Animals Real and Virtual. In: SCIENCE AND THE SELF: ANIMALS, EVOLUTION, AND ETHICS: ESSAYS IN HONOUR OF MARY MIDGLEY. Routledge, pp. 31-40. ISBN 978-1-138-89838-7

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Abstract

One of Midgley’s principal themes has been that ‘the use of [non-human] animals as symbols of wickedness has done ethics no good’. Our most serious sins are rarely a matter of giving way to ‘animal inclinations’, and saintliness or heroism or ordinarily decent conduct are not found only amongst ‘intellectuals’. ‘Intellectuals’, indeed, may find it especially easy to rationalize their own bad conduct. Nor has the use of animals as ‘symbols of wickedness’ done animals any good: at best they need to be disciplined and tamed, and may suffer still worse penalties at our hands. How non-human animals are or should be treated is a larger topic: here I shall address only the former question – are ‘the beast within’ or ‘the beast as bad example’ useful ethical notions? I conclude, from an examination both of ancient philosophy and modern biological theory, that we are – and maybe every intelligent species is also bound to be – a story-telling species, and inhabit both the ‘real’ or sensual world, and the ‘virtual’ or imaginary. In that virtual world are all the lands and creatures we imagine and remember, compose and resurrect. In telling stories about them and their relationships we may slowly identify those aspects of ourselves that need most care and compassion: the monsters and unsympathetic intellects that we know we might become.

Item Type: Book Section
Additional Information: issn: 978-1138898387
Depositing User: Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited: 15 Oct 2015 09:05
Last Modified: 17 Dec 2022 01:05
DOI: 10.4324/9781315708461
Related URLs:
URI: https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/2031879