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Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons™

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Selected Works

2019

Culture

Articles 1 - 3 of 3

Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Cognitive Relatives Yet Moral Strangers?, Judith Benz-Scharzberg, Andrew Knight Jul 2019

Cognitive Relatives Yet Moral Strangers?, Judith Benz-Scharzberg, Andrew Knight

Andrew Knight, PhD

This article provides an empirically based, interdisciplinary approach to the following two questions: Do animals possess behavioral and cognitive characteristics such as culture, language, and a theory of mind? And if so, what are the implications, when long-standing criteria used to justify differences in moral consideration between humans and animals are no longer considered indisputable? One basic implication is that the psychological needs of captive animals should be adequately catered for. However, for species such as great apes and dolphins with whom we share major characteristics of personhood, welfare considerations alone may not suffice, and consideration of basic rights may …

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People -- Marine Mammal Interactions, Andrew Butterworth, Mark P. Simmonds Jan 2019

People -- Marine Mammal Interactions, Andrew Butterworth, Mark P. Simmonds

Mark P. Simmonds, OBE

Our relationships with marine mammals are complex. We have used them as resources, and in some places this remains the case; viewed them as competitors and culled them (again ongoing in some localities); been so captivated and intrigued by them that we have taken them into captivity for our entertainment; and developed a lucrative eco-tourism activity focused on them in many nations. When we first envisaged this special topic, we had two overarching aims:

Firstly, we hoped to generate critical evaluation of some of our relationships with these animals.

Secondly, we hoped to attract knowledgeable commentators and experts who might …

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Sexual Misconduct, Religion, And Culture, Alev Dudek Jan 2019

Sexual Misconduct, Religion, And Culture, Alev Dudek

Alev Dudek

Civilization is the reflection of a constant effort to increase reproduction while suppressing pleasure. This is because civilized societies are artificial systems that are governed by rulers. They are militarized and operate through production, consumption, exchange of goods and services, and the transfer of wealth. Unlike reproduction, pleasure and release of tension do little to benefit the rulers (unless they are involved in the process themselves, of course). The higher the number of births, the better for the rulers because of the increased opportunities for economic and military exchange. Naturally, there are exceptions to this rule. However, such exceptions, …

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