Kafessiz Türkiye aims to shed light on all aspects of animal rights in this educational series, with the goal of collectively advocating for the well-being of companion, farm, and wild animals through philosophical theories.
Why should animals have rights? What is the moral status of animals? Is it legitimate to use animals in scientific research? Is it right to spay/neuter pets? Are the conditions in the food system acceptable for animals? These questions and more will be answered in the online summer school, open to anyone curious about the answers. Participants who attend all educational sessions will receive a certificate of participation.
Applications made through Kafessiz Türkiye's website will close on July 22.
The program for the summer school, which is open to everyone and free of charge, is as follows:
July 25, 2023 | 20:30
Animals in Outcome-Oriented Philosophy
Dr. Engin Arıkan
The fact that animals have different characteristics from humans does not change the reality: they can also feel pain and joy. What happens to them has consequences: they suffer or become happy. In this education, the moral value of the pain and joy experienced by animals will be examined in the context of outcome-oriented philosophy. Based on this, answers will be given to the question of how the principle of equality can be applied to beings with different characteristics. Finally, the implications of these arguments and how the treatment of animals today needs to be changed will be examined. Peter Singer's writings will be primarily referenced in this section.
July 26, 2023 | 20:30
Animals in Rights-Oriented Philosophy
Dr. Engin Arıkan
Although a significant portion of animals may not possess advanced cognitive abilities like humans, they are beings with their own personalities. For example, it would not be wrong to say that a dog, a cow, or a monkey is aware of their existence and their surroundings, can develop thoughts about them, and can act according to certain expectations about the future. In this training, arguments will be examined regarding the unique value of beings with specific characteristics and their resulting fundamental rights. Acknowledging animals' moral rights, such as the right to life and the right to be respected, also leads to radical implications. The nature of these implications and how they differ from other philosophical approaches will be shown. Tom Regan's writings will be primarily referenced in this section.
July 27, 2023 | 20:30
Animals in Virtue-Oriented Philosophy
Dr. Engin Arıkan
How we treat animals is a matter that demonstrates and determines our humanity as much as the animals themselves. Classical thinkers such as Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle have focused their reflections on ethics not on outcomes or rights, but rather on human virtues. Our interactions with animals, like other human actions, touch upon various virtues such as honesty, compassion, respect, moderation, justice, courage, and love. In this training, the analyses and arguments of virtue-oriented moral philosophy regarding animals will be examined. Moreover, the role animals can play in answering the question of what we should do for a good, virtuous, and happy life, which we often ask ourselves, will be explored. Finally, the approaches emphasized by virtue ethics in the face of struggles for animals and life's difficulties will be examined.
About Kafessiz Türkiye
Kafessiz Türkiye is a campaign led by the Farm Animal Protection Association to end the cruel and outdated cage system in which chickens are confined for egg production. Starting as an initiative by three volunteers in 2018, Kafessiz Türkiye grew and gained support, and in 2020, it transformed into the Farm Animal Protection Association. Continuously run professionally under the association, Kafessiz Türkiye has brought about corporate policy changes that will impact hundreds of thousands of chickens. In 2022, Animal Charity Evaluators (ACE), which evaluates organizations working in the field of animal rights worldwide, selected Kafessiz Türkiye as one of the most effective animal advocacy organizations in the world.
About Dr. Engin Arıkan
Dr. Engin Arıkan completed his master's and doctoral studies at Galatasaray University, conducting research in the fields of Animal Welfare, Animal Rights, and Animal Law. Since 2017, he has been continuing his work in animal welfare.