Solidarity: Animal Ethics

‘Solidarity’ has received considerable attention in social and moral philosophy over the last ten to fifteen years and occupies a central place in many social justice movements. At the same time, its relevance, meaning and practical implications in the context of animal protection politics have not been systematically explored. Some animal activists use the concept in a loose fashion and some academics have explored the possibility of interspecies solidarity, particularly in relation to working animals, One Health policies and the representation of animals in political systems. Yet no regard has been given to the different forms of solidarity, the different contexts in which it occurs, and its strategic use in building more just and non-oppressive interspecies communities.

This conference invites academics from various disciplines as well as people active in animal protection politics to explore whether there can be solidarity with or on behalf of which animals, which functions it can have, what practical individual and societal commitments different kinds of solidarity might entail, and how context might complicate solidaristic practices.

The conference will be held in English, with talks and papers pre-circulated and three online discussion sessions as well as, hopefully, a small networking programme offline. It is free and open to other researchers, practitioners and the interested public. With: Dr. Alasdair Cochrane (Sheffield University, UK), Dr. Mara-Daria Cojocaru (Munich School of Philosophy, DE), Dr. Kendra Coulter (Brock University, CA), Dr. Jan Deckers (Newcastle University, UK), Alice DiConcetto, LLM (Animal Law Europe, BE), Sue Donaldson (Queen’s University, CA), Dr. Charlotte Blattner (Universität Bern, CH), Prof. Dr. Lori Gruen (Wesleyan University, USA), Dr. Kathrin Herrmann (Johns Hopkins University), Dr. Oscar Horta (University of Santiago de Compostela), Prof. Dr. Will Kymlicka (Queen’s University, CA), Dr. Alex Lockwood (Animal Rebellion/The University of Sunderland),Gisela Pschenitschnig (Gut Aiderbichl) and Dr. Siobhan O’Sullivan (University of New South Wales, AUS). Registration: For attendance in person, please register by 1.8.2021, for attendance online by 20.8.2021 at rottendorf@hfph.de. Registered participants will get access to pre-recorded individual presentations and pre-written papers. These should be studied in one’s own time to prepare for the online discussions. www.hfph.de/solidarityanimals2021 --Dr. Mara-Daria Cojocaruhttps://maradariacojocaru.weebly.com/ Animal-Assisted Philosophy