Mary Midgley and why animals matter
I can explain Mary Midgley’s argument for why animals matter and explore the issue using philosophical tools.
Mary Midgley and why animals matter
I can explain Mary Midgley’s argument for why animals matter and explore the issue using philosophical tools.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- Mary Midgley was a British philosopher known for her work on science, ethics and animal rights.
- She said philosophy was useful to help fix our blocked thinking.
- She critiques arguments that say animals should be treated exactly like humans and that animals do not matter at all.
- 'Animals and why they matter' provides philosophical tools we may use to make decisions about the treatment of animals.
- She advocates for a mixed community, where animals matter morally for many different reasons.
Keywords
Blocked thinking - our ideas or thinking can sometimes get broken or blocked
Absolute dismissal - animals do not matter morally at all
Absolute inclusion - animals should be treated exactly like humans
Species barrier - belief that humans and animals are fundamentally different groups
Common misconception
Philosophy is just abstract thinking and doesn’t apply to everyday life.
Some people think philosophy is just for debates or theories, but Mary Midgley shows it’s actually a practical tool for thinking clearly about real issues like animal welfare.
To help you plan your year 9 religious education lesson on: Mary Midgley and why animals matter, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 9 religious education lesson on: Mary Midgley and why animals matter, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
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Explore more key stage 3 religious education lessons from the Changing world: How should the Earth's resources be used? unit, dive into the full secondary religious education curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
5 Questions
Q1.What is philosophy?
Q2.What is animal welfare?
Q3.What is the biggest animal welfare charity in the UK?
Q4.How are animals protected in UK law?
Q5.What does species mean?
Assessment exit quiz
5 Questions
Q1.Match the keywords to their correct meanings.
the view that animals do not matter morally at all
the belief that animals should be treated exactly like humans
a world where humans and animals live and feel together