More than one billion animals are kept as pets around the world. But bioethicist Jessica Pierce says that might not be great for our furry, feathered and scaly friends. In this story for @time, she discusses the potential harms of pet ownership, including whether it's ok to buy and sell animals and use them for our own gratification, the anguish of captivity, and the climate impacts of pet-keeping. She also posits a new way forward, in which human-animal ties are mutual and freely chosen. It's a very thought-provoking article; tell us in the comments what you think.
@CultureDesk@time Thank you for sharing this. I have been thinking a lot about this lately. I've studied more about Jain and Buddhist philosophy over the years and they present a wider and more nuanced conception of suffering than Western philosophy often does. When combined with environmental ethics, there are deep questions about suffering inherent in so many of our complex systems. Perhaps this will be something the future might condemn us for?
It's been a good year for @socannex. Today's episode features @annamueller and @sethabrutyn discussing their new book Life Under Pressure (2024, Oxford University Press) with me.
We talk about their field site, Oak Grove, its high status, and high earning adult community, and the psychic pain that many young people experience.
Today, June 23, 1593, William Shakespeare and his acting troupe perform A Midsummer Night’s Dream for Morpheus and an audience of fae folk (The Sandman: Dream Country, by @neilhimself and Charles Vess)
@neilhimself 's beautiful story is being rereleased in its 3D version in some theatres this summer!
I've never seen Coraline on screen, and from what I hear, the 3D version is a 3D movie that actual works and is remarkable to watch. It's not playing in my little city, but it feels like it could be worth driving to a nearby city to see. A little road trip might be in our future 💛💙♥️
Low and middle-income countries in Asia face significant disparities in scientific capacity and ability to influence public policy, which is likely to affect responses to future pandemics, climate change and technological advancements such as Artificial Intelligence, according to the International Network for Government Science Advice (INGSA).
I originally read the title as “it is more difficult to influence public policy in least-developed countries based on this study” but it appears it’s actually “it is more difficult for scientists to advocate for science-backed policies in least-developed countries.”