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NYT Opens the Door to the Humane Myth

Animal Person

In this morning's New York Times editorial " There Is No 'Humane' Execution ," we have an imperfect yet nevertheless baby step toward acknowledgment of the HumaneMyth. We went from an abolitionist angle--that executing people is morally wrong--to the death penalty needs to be repealed to eliminate problems during the execution.

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Osprey Cam

10,000 Birds

One of the interesting things about web cams is that as they foster familiarity, they also favor the familiar human urge to impose narrative. One of the interesting things about web cams is that as they foster familiarity, they also favor the familiar human urge to impose narrative.

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Birds and Us: A 12,000 Year History from Cave Art to Conservation–A Book Review

10,000 Birds

They may be about bird eggs ( The Most Perfect Thing: The Inside (and Outside) of a Bird’s Egg , 2016), or a 17th-century ornithologist ( Virtuoso by Nature: The Scientific Worlds of Francis Willughby, 2016), or How Bullfinches learn songs from humans ( The Wisdom of Birds: An Illustrated History of Ornithology.

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Moral Vegetarianism, Part 12 of 13

Animal Ethics

For an explanation of this feature, click on “Moral Vegetarianism” at the bottom of this post. The Argument from Brutalization The previous argument was based on an alleged indirect effect on human beings of not eating meat. Conversely, vegetarianism, it is argued, tends to humanize people. But Hitler was also a vegetarian.

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Birding Shanghai in June 2022

10,000 Birds

As with Chinese male humans, having your own building is still vital to raising young. So, the birds start collecting mud and small sticks. One of the established ways to evaluate self-cognition in animals (including humans) is the mirror test. Humanity is not very human. You should try it too. Sometimes it works.

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The North American Model of Wildlife Conservation and Who Pays for It

10,000 Birds

A new willingness among scientists to consider certain moral and ethical implications with respect to wild animals, where previously utilitarian ideas prevailed, including ideas of intrinsic value. The use of wildlife for subsistence purposes by human populations should not be equated with their commercial consumptive use.

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How to Know the Birds: The Art and Adventure of Birding – A Book Review

10,000 Birds

And, Essay #195, “Our Human Values: The Ugly,” describes the standoff between catfish loving Double-crested Cormorants and catfish farmers in the Missouri Valley. I’m not sure if “the Ugly” refers to the cormorant itself or human reaction (catfish farmers are officially allowed to shoot the birds).

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