​
Animal Ethics & Religion
PHILOS 130/REL ST 170
​Spring 2020

​CLASS TIME: Mon/Wed 1:00-2:20pm;
ZOOM LINK: https://uci.zoom.us/j/682337003  

 Professor: Brianne Donaldson 
  Email: b.donaldson@UCI.edu
Image credit: Jo-Anne McArthure, WeAnimalsArchive.org

DESCRIPTION

​​In their definition of religion, Emile Durkheim and Mircea Eliade present the human/animal boundary as a fundamental hallmark of the discipline, one often overlooked in contemporary studies of “animals and religion.” In this course we will utilize this fundamental binary to identify the construction of  “human” and “animal” subjectivities in religious narratives such as Jewish, Islamic, Christian, Jain, and Buddhist, as well as in other scientific and ethical accounts of humans and animals, including those considered secular. We will identify practices and modes of thinking that might disturb this conceptual binary, creating new opportunities for rethinking identity, community, and response beyond species lines. 

STUDENT LEARNING GOALS

1. Articulate at least three distinct approaches to animal ethics theory
2. Practice utilizing cultural sources, including data, to understand contemporary animal ethics issues
​3. Analyze diverse religious/secular views of animals utilizing theoretical and ethical sources
4. Apply theory and ethics to modern film and to a constructive project centered on transforming a community's view of animals

OPENING RECITATION

The Arhats and Bhagavats of the past, present, and future,
all say thus, speak thus, declare thus, explain thus:
all breathing, existing, living, sentient creatures should not be slain,
nor treated with violence, nor abused, nor tormented, nor driven away. 
This is the pure, unchangeable law.
​
–Acārāṅga-sūtra 1.4.1 (comprised in stages, 6th c.-1st c. BCE)

 STUDENT VISITING HOURS: COME SEE ME ONLINE! (Spring 2020)

I'll be hosting virtual visiting hours every week and I'd love to have you visit! 
  • Tuesday noon-1pm; Zoom link: https://uci.zoom.us/j/686242624
  • Wednesday 2:45–3:45pm; Zoom link: https://uci.zoom.us/j/647620106
  • Many other times by request for in-person appointment/video/phone visits: just contact me (note that I often don't check email after 6pm)
  • When writing me, please include a greeting such as "Hi _____" or "Dear _____" so I feel like a means to your success as well as my own end; I will endeavor to do the same for you.

REQUIRED TEXTS 

Click image below for Amazon link. STUDENTS MUST HAVE A COPY OF THESE TEXTS IN CLASS. 
A Communion of Subjects: Animals in Religions, Science, and Ethics, ed. by Kimberley Patton & Paul Waldau (2009; *paperback)
  • Publisher: Columbia University Press (April 20, 2009)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0231136439
  • ISBN-13: 978-0231136433
​*OTHER INDIVIDUAL READINGS WILL ALSO BE LINKED IN THE SCHEDULE BELOW.

POLICIES

CONTENT CONSIDERATION
Some of the content in this course may be difficult to read about, view, or consider. Nevertheless, it is important to grapple with these difficulties so that our work together is not relegated to the realm of thought and theory alone. I have curated the assignments intentionally and carefully, and provided assignment frameworks so that you approach all tasks with questions in mind; that is, I will never "throw you into the deep end" without tools for intellectual swimming. In additional to these guiding frameworks, you can sometimes also choose your own assignment, such as one of the required films, or the final project. If you find something particularly challenging, I would encourage you to write about it in your Wednesday reflections, or discuss it with peers in your group work, or raise it in conversation with me, your friends, or family. 

ZOOM PRIVACY
I will be recording the lecture sessions each week for those students who cannot attend. If you do not want to be recorded, you have the option to turn off your camera and submit questions or comments through the Chat function of Zoom (directly to me), or through email. Breakout groups on Zoom will not be recorded, so all students can use your camera during that time. 

​ATTENDANCE POLICY
Given the sudden shift to remote classes, I will not have an attendance policy this quarter. However, if you know that you will not be able to attend on a regular basis for any reason, including technology access, extended illness, extended family emergency, or extended immigration-related issue, please contact me as soon as you are able to and we will discuss a plan forward.
  • Much of our collective work will happen during class sessions. I will endeavor to record the online classes so you can catch up/follow along if you are absent.
  • Also, if something has kept you from reading or feeling prepared for class, please still come. You can always "pass" in discussion. So long as this is not a regular occurrence, your engaged presence will still benefit you, your peers, and our collective work.  
​
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY AND PLAGIARISM
We are here to do the hard work of learning together. Academic dishonesty erodes this goal and your own self confidence, and is a serious academic offense that can result in failing a paper, failing the class, and academic dismissal from the university. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, plagiarism (copying words, phrases, or ideas from other authors/sources without giving citation credit), copying answers from another student, allowing another student to copy your answers, communicating exam answers to other students during an exam, attempting to use notes or other aids during an exam, or tampering with an exam after it has been corrected and then returning it for more credit. These actions are a violation of the UCI Policies on Academic Honesty <see https://aisc.uci.edu/>. It is your responsibility to read and understand these policies. Note that any instance of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Academic Integrity Administrative Office for disciplinary action and is cause for a failing grade in the course.
DISABILITY ACCOMMODATIONS
All of us have different abilities, strengths, and challenges with learning. Students who believe they may need accommodations to succeed in this class are encouraged to register online with the Disability Services Center (or call 949-824-7494) as soon as possible to ensure that such accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion. This can include priority test-taking, seating preference, transportation, document conversion, among many other possible accommodations. Also, please feel free to meet with me to discuss any ways I can make any aspect of the classroom, materials, or assignments more accessible. 
FOOD AND HOUSING INSECURITY
​Any student who has difficulty affording groceries or accessing sufficient food to eat every day, or who lacks a safe and stable place to live, and believes this may affect their performance in the course, is urged to contact the FRESH Basic Needs Hub and the Basic Needs Coordinator, Andrea Gutierrez, at agordill@exchange.uci.edu. Also, please notify me if you are comfortable doing so. This will enable me to inform you of resources that might be of help.
 
UCI COUNSELING AND RELATIONSHIP VIOLENCE PHONE LINES (24-HRS/DAY)
At-home learning can exacerbate personal, family, and relationship strains. UCI has several resources and services to support well-being and safety. Click here. 

ADD/DROP DEADLINES
Students may DROP or ADD a course through 5:00 p.m. on Friday of the second week of classes. https://www.reg.uci.edu/enrollment/adc/adcpolicy.html
  
TECHNOLOGY IN THE CLASSROOM
Not applicable 

LATE WORK POLICY
The late policy will begin after the drop/add period. There is a one hour grace period on all assignments, except for Monday and Wednesday worksheets which must be uploaded by the time required for full credit (or they receive a -1 deduction). Exam must be completed within the provided window. Where applicable, assignments of up to 40 points will be deducted 2 points total; and late assignments over 40 points will be deducted 4 points. All work is due by the last day of classes to be considered, unless otherwise noted. ​ 

ASSIGNMENTS AND GRADING

1. Monday Quizzes (Best 6 of 8; 36pts) [16%]
2. Monday Research Charts (Best 6 of 8; 36pts) [16%]
3. Wednesday Experiential Topic Reflections (Best 6 of 8; 36pts) [16%]
4. Weekly Group Roles and Discussion (and peer review) (36pts) [16%]
5. Film Reflection (32pts) [14%]
6. ​Final Exam (50pts) [22%]

ASSIGNMENT DESCRIPTIONS

1. MONDAY CANVAS QUIZZES (Best 6 of 8)
Complete Mondays before class at 1pm
Starting the Monday of Week 2, and seven Mondays after, student will complete a short, 6-point open-book quiz on Canvas. These quizzes will include terms and ideas for that day's readings. Student can do all 8 quizzes or skip 2, for a total of 6. These quizzes will build our vocabulary of thought and action. The quizzes will also provide content and questions for a portion of the final exam. *Quizzes will be available by the Friday prior to class.

2. MONDAY RESEARCH CHARTS (Best 6 of 8 will count; students can do all 8 or skip 2; due each Monday at class time) 
  • The Research Chart outline can be found/downloaded in the below "Resources" section on syllabus and under "Files" on Canvas.
  • The charts will be used to build reading engagement and understanding; they will also be used for a task worth 50% of the final exam.  
Description: Starting Week 2 and each Monday after, students will complete a research chart worksheet for each of the class readings due for Monday, never exceeding 3 on a given day. This means that if 4 readings are assigned for a given Monday, students should do all those readings, but only need to complete a research chart for 3. The aim is to build confidence in understanding the main point/perspective, an author's deep motivating concern, interpretation, and citation skills, and to prepare you for a large portion of the final exam.

Turning in: Upload research charts as one document each Monday before class to Canvas
Grading: These will be graded 1-6; (1) (low effort), 2 (needs improvement), 3 (adequate effort), 4 (good effort), 5 (strong effort), 6 (exceptional effort). As these are primarily for your own skill-building and class participation, they will receive no (or few) comments. 
  
3. WEDNESDAY EXPERIENTIAL TOPIC REFLECTION (Best 6 of 8; students can do all 8 or skip 2) 
Description: Starting Week 2 and seven Wednesday after, students will have an opportunity to complete an Experiential Topic Reflection. Of these 8 Wednesdays, students will be graded on the best 6 of 8 (all 8 can be done or 2 are optional). Topic Reflections will provide the backbone for Wednesday Group Discussions where we engage contemporary ethical issues, theoretical questions, or religious views of animals utilizing our readings for that week and earlier. These reflections include 3 elements:
​
  1. Prepare whatever short readings or ethics activities are assigned for Wednesday (in weekly schedule below)
  2. Seek out some experience with a living being/s each week. This could be a short walk tuned into sounds/sights/scents, etc.; it could be watching ants on a sidewalk, attending to a companion animal in a new way or with new information; observing lobsters in a tank at the grocery store, removing a spider from the shower, watching/noticing birds, bees, squirrel or other wildlife, watching life forms in a tree, observing an animal killed on the road, examining the meat, milk, or dairy aisle, learning something about the habits and history of local wildlife; it could be sitting outside, or hiking, etc. Your experience can change weekly; you can plan it or it can emerge organically.
  3. Write a 1/2-page single-spaced (or full page double-spaced) reflection that joins together that week's readings and activities with your living-beings experience. You are certainly welcome to reference earlier weeks and topics, but this is the chance to demonstrate you engagement primarily with this week's readings and activities. 
  4. Construct 1 emerging question on the week's themes or its relation to the wider course. This question could be a reworking of one of your Monday questions that is evolving in your mind, or a new question altogether that reflects an engagements with ongoing readings and lectures. The question need not be especially complex (though it can be), but it should emerge from your experiential and intellectual reflection. 

Turning in: Upload research charts as one document each Wednesday before class to Canvas
Grading: These will be graded 1-6; (1) (low effort), 2 (needs improvement), 3 (adequate effort), 4 (good effort), 5 (strong effort), 6 (exceptional effort). As these are primarily for your own skill-building and class participation, they will receive no (or few) comments.   
 
4. Weekly Group Roles and Peer Review
We will discuss this Week 3 or 4.

5. Midterm Film Analysis
Due: Upload to Canvas by Week 5b Wednesday, April 29 at class time
Students will watch two movies this quarter: (1) Fowl Play, and (2) Another film of your choice from this provided list.
Please see the "Film Analysis" assignment in "Resources" section below.

6. Final Exam
The final exam will cover terms and questions from quizzes, an activity utilizing Research Charts worth 50% of the exam, and 1-3 other short answer and/or reflection questions. A study guide will be handed out by Week 9.
​
This is a basic grading guide 
GRADE                            
A           94-100%           
A-          90-94%           
B+         87-90%             
B           83-87%          
B-          80-83%             
C+         77-80%            
C           73-77%            
C-          70-73%             
D+         67-70%          
D           63-67%             
D-          60-63%     

RESOURCES: 5 WAYS TO TAKE NOTES AND BEDFORD CITATION GUIDE 

Rubrics and Worksheets

research_chart_worksheet.docx
File Size: 19 kb
File Type: docx
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animal_ethics_theory_in_film_reflection_worksheet_.docx
File Size: 15 kb
File Type: docx
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usda_animal_research_activities_worksheet__wk2b_.docx
File Size: 18 kb
File Type: docx
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 WEEKLY SCHEDULE ​(and tips for class preparation)

Dear Students,

Your presence, participation, and growing confidence and skills are important to me this quarter. Here are some thoughts:

Readings and videos listed in the below schedule should be completed BEFORE coming to class (unless noted by "in-class"). Pre-class quizzes/reading questions will help you to see where your knowledge gaps are and help build our common language for class discussions. Remember that XX of these lowest scores will be discarded.

Remember that many new ideas come cumulatively over time. Be patient with yourself and know that feeling a little lost or unclear is part of the process of learning something new. Feel free to raise questions in class, send me a message, or let's meet if you want to gain clarity. Please consider the following tips as you prepare for class:

TIPS FOR CLASS PREPARATION:
  • Take reading notes (In this class, we'll be doing Research Charts for all Monday readings, so notes are built in!)
  • Trouble following a reading? That's okay. Here are some alternatives to walking away exasperated:
    • Pick one or two terms in the reading and look them up independently using online sources and just try to understand that term in its context; sharing this info in class will be edifying for us all
    • Pick one figure named in the reading and look them up independently as in previous point . . . sharing this info in class will be edifying for us all
    • Read the opening paragraph and see if you can identify the main point/s that will be covered
  • Short on time? Here are some alternatives to skipping class for not doing readings: 
    • Read the opening paragraph and see if you can identify the main point/s that will be covered
    • Read the section heading and the closing paragraph
    • "Pass" in class discussion; a rare "pass" is perfectly acceptable so long as it does not happen regularly

I'm looking forward to our time. ​

Week 1​

1a Monday, March 30 
First Session
  1. Learning Zoom Technology
  2. Reviewing parts of syllabus
  3. Activity: Would you eat your cat? 
Assignments
Class discussion; no reading required​

1b Wednesday, April 1
Two Experiential Readings
  • ​Read: Thomas Berry, "Prologue: Loneliness and Presence" in Communion of Subjects (CoS), p. 5-10 [**If your text has not arrived, you can find this chapter by clicking on the book icon here to access the "Look inside" option. Scroll to the page or click on the Kindle Table of Contents]
  • Read: Alice Walker, "Am I Blue?"
Assignments
  • Practice a Monday Research Chart worksheets for one of these two readings, both of which we'll be discussing comparatively in class (this practice chart will not count but will give you a chance to ask questions about this weekly task) 

Week 2

2a Monday, April 6 
Theory 1: Identity/Similarity
  • Read: Matthew Calarco, "Identity, Difference, and Indistinction" (p. 41-48)
  • Read: Tom Regan, "The Case for Animal Rights" (pdf below; 7 pages)
  • Read: Peter Singer, "Practical Ethics" (pdf below; 10 pages)​
Assignments
  • Upload Monday Research Charts as one document to Canvas by class time (Opportunity 1 of 8; 6 required)​
  • Discuss Midterm Film Analysis in class
calarco_fully_annotated.pdf
File Size: 3265 kb
File Type: pdf
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regan_-_mar_27_2020_-_4-08_pm.pdf
File Size: 2842 kb
File Type: pdf
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practical_ethics_p._singer.pdf
File Size: 2793 kb
File Type: pdf
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2b Wednesday, April 8
Ethics 1 Laws and Animals in Research  Resource for Class Use (you do not need to read before class): Assignments
  • Upload Wednesday Experiential Topic Reflection (Opportunity 1 of 8; 6 required)

Week 3

3a Monday, April  13 
Theory 2: Difference and Indistinction
  • Read: Matthew Calarco, "Identity, Difference, and Indistinction" (p. 48-60) (*fully annotated* pdf can now be found under week 2a)
  • Read: Jacques Derrida, "The Animal that Therefore I Am" (pdf below; 15 pages)
Assignments
  • Upload Monday Research Charts as one document to Canvas by class time (Opportunity 2 of 8; 6 required)
derrida_fully_annotated-the_animal_that_therefore_i_am.pdf
File Size: 9766 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
​3a Wednesday, April  15
​​Ethics 2 Laws and Captivity  Resources for Class Use (you do not need to read before class): ​Assignments
  • Upload Wednesday Experiential Topic Reflection (Opportunity 2 of 8; 6 required)

Week 4

4a Monday, April 20 
Theory 3: Binary Logic: Species, Race, Gender
  • Read: Aaron Gross, "The Study of Religion After the Animal" (pdf below; 16 pages)
  • Read: Carol Adams, "The Rape of Animals, the Butchering of Women" (pdf below; 6 pages)​
  • Read: Syl Ko, "By 'Human,' Everybody Just Means 'White'" (pd below; 7 pages)
​Assignments:​
  • ​Upload Monday Research Charts as one document to Canvas by class time (Opportunity 3 of 8; 6 required)
gross_-_mar_27_2020_-_4-37_pm.pdf
File Size: 4621 kb
File Type: pdf
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adams_-_mar_27_2020_-_4-15_pm.pdf
File Size: 2723 kb
File Type: pdf
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syl_ko_-_mar_27_2020_-_4-20_pm.pdf
File Size: 3213 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
4b Wednesday, April 22
Ethics 3 Animal Use and Harm ​Assignments
  • Upload Wednesday Experiential Topic Reflection (Opportunity 3 of 8; 6 required)

Week 5

5a Monday, April 27
Christianity
CoS=Communion of Subjects (required text)
Assignments​​
​5b Wednedsay, April 29 
Christianity: An Alternate Reading

​Assignments
  • Upload Wednesday Experiential Topic Reflection (Opportunity 4 of 8; 6 required)
  • Upload Midterm Film Analysis to Canvas by class time

Week 6

6a Monday, May 4  
Judaism and Islam
  • Read: (CoS) Roberta Kalechofsky, "Hierarchy, Kinship, and Responsibility: The Jewish Relationship to the Animal World"
  • Read: (CoS) Richard Foltz, "'This She-Camel of God is a Sign to You': Dimensions of Animals in Islamic Tradition and Muslim Culture"
Assignments

​6b Wednesday, May 6
Islam: An Alternate Reading
​
Assignments
  • Upload Wednesday Experiential Topic Reflection (Opportunity 5 of 8; 6 required)

Week 7

7a Monday, May 11
​Jainism
Topic
Assignments

7b Wednesday, May 13 
​Jainism: An Alternate Reading
​
Assignments
  • Upload Wednesday Experiential Topic Reflection (Opportunity 6 of 8; 6 required)

Week 8

8a Monday, May 18
Science/Atheism
Assignments

8b Wednesday, May 20 
Topic
Assignments
  • Upload Wednesday Experiential Topic Reflection (Opportunity 7 of 8; 6 required)

Week 9

9a Monday, May 25 
NO CLASS: MEMORIAL DAY

9b Wednesday, May 27 
​Philosophy and Advocacy
Read: Donaldson
Read: Aph Ko Chapter
Assignments
Draft of Final Brochure Due

Week 10

10a Monday, June 1 
Buddhism
Read: Ian Harris
Read: Justin Fifield
Assignments

10b Wednesday, June 3
Topic
Assignments
  • Upload Wednesday Experiential Topic Reflection (Opportunity 8 of 8; 6 required)

Week 11

FINAL EXAM (online; open book)
Details To Be Determined

www.briannedonaldson.com