Dr Rebekah Humphreys announces publication of new book Animal Studies and Philosophy

Dr Rebekah Humphreys, Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, is pleased to announce the publication of her new book, Animal Studies and Philosophy, published by Polity Press.

The book provides the first comprehensive philosophical introduction to Critical Animal Studies, an interdisciplinary field that challenges established assumptions about animals and human–animal relationships. Drawing on ethical theory, ethology, political philosophy, epistemology and social thought, Animal Studies and Philosophy demonstrates how philosophical inquiry is central to understanding animals, their interests and the moral frameworks that shape their treatment.

Engaging with thinkers from the ancient Greeks to contemporary philosophers, the book explores key debates surrounding animal agency, moral status, power, exploitation and responsibility. Written in an accessible yet rigorous style, it is intended for students, scholars and readers interested in animal ethics, philosophy and the humanities more broadly.

Commenting on the publication, Rebekah said:

“I am delighted that Animal Studies and Philosophy is now published. The book brings together years of thinking about how philosophy can enrich and challenge the ways we understand animals and our relationships with them. I hope it will encourage readers to engage critically and imaginatively with the ethical, political and conceptual questions at the heart of animal studies.”

The book has already attracted strong academic praise. Distinguished Service Professor, Gordon Burghardt, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, commented:

“Among the many books in recent years on nonhuman animals and their treatment, this book is now the place to start in understanding the philosophical issues at play. Not only does Humphreys describe, often in depth, the views of key figures from the ancient Greeks to the present day, but she critiques, compares, and applies them to current perspectives and future challenges.”

Animal Studies and Philosophy makes a timely and significant contribution to contemporary debates, positioning philosophy as essential to rethinking human relationships with non-human animals in an era of ethical, environmental and social change.

You can purchase the book by clicking on the following link: https://www.politybooks.com/bookdetail?book_slug=animal-studies-and-philosophy—9781509551644. 

You can also read her blog here, live on the Polity website: Animal Studies and Philosophy | Polity

About the Author

Rebekah Humphreys is a Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD). Her work spans animal ethics, environmental ethics, and critical animal studies, and she is particularly interested in the intersections between ethics, ethology and psychology. She is the author of Animals, Ethics and Language: The Philosophy of Meaningful Communication in the Lives of Animals (Palgrave, 2023), as well as a range of peer-reviewed articles in animal ethics. 

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