Nagel's "What Is It Like To Be A Bat?"
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7 pages in length. The writer discusses Nagel's perception of animal consciousness, noting how humanity hesitates to apply any other criteria to animal sentience than what is based upon man's own understanding. The notion of physicalism is also discussed. No bibliography.
Filename: TLCNagelBat.rtf

Non-Human Animals Rights and Moral Standing
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This is a 5 page paper discussing the moral standing of animal rights. The arguments for the moral rights of animals covers a great many aspects in regards to moral obligation, natural rights of man and animals, utilitarianism and man’s exploitation of anything or anyone it considers inferior to himself. While many argue that the distinction between species is a cognitive one, others argue that if a distinction should be made it should be in a species’ capacity to feel pain in which case animals are equivalent to humans and should not be treated poorly. Additional arguments show that humans are hypocritical in their actions. While many humans treat their domestic animals well and they fight for the protection of these animals, they still allow for inhumane treatment of animals to occur in regards to agriculture, medical experimentation and entertainment environments. Morally and ethically, humans do seem to believe in animal rights; however their actions do not reflect their morals ideals. By all accounts, non-human animals should have protection rights and should be morally equivalent to humans in nature but however sound the argument may be, the utilitarian aspect of the human actions seem to override this conclusion. Bibliography lists 8 sources.
Filename: TJnonhu1.rtf

Northern Swift Fox
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5 pages in length. Cat-like in appearance yet every bit a member of the dog family, the northern swift fox may have borrowed an extra life or two from its feline counterpart. Its bonafide extinction from Canada earlier this century was met with considerable vigor throughout the past two decades, as reintroduction efforts have returned hundreds of foxes to the wild. The writer discusses scientific name, habitat, breeding and feeding habits, as well as endangered status as they relate to the northern swift fox. Bibliography lists 5 sources.
Filename: TLCswfox.rtf

Organized Interest Groups: Political Participation On A National Level
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7 pages in length. Mankind has deceived its furry, finned and scaled friends by its disgraceful disregard for their basic rights as living beings. Nowhere is it written that humans, while perhaps the most developed of all species, are the rulers over their nonspeaking counterparts. Whether or not a person believes animals have the same rights as humans is not the issue. The issue is that animals have the same innate right to a life free of pain, suffering and exploitation as man does, regardless if they are lower on the life chain. Animals have no one to stick up for them; mankind must adopt the role of their caretaker or prepare to suffer the consequences. The writer discusses the political agenda and participation of a wildlife protection organization whose mission it is to rehabilitate the Russian brown bear. Bibliography lists 3 sources.
Filename: TLCspcin.wps

Pesticide Effects On Wildlife
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7 pages in length. Pesticides have proven indispensable in contemporary society, however, they have also wreaked havoc upon the environment. From the small farmer to large conglomerates, the use – and in many cases misuse – of pesticides has created detrimental consequences for wildlife. Bibliography lists 6 sources.
Filename: TLCPesticide.rtf

Peter and Rosemary Grant: Galapagos Finches
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A 3 page paper which examines natural selection and evolution concerning the Galapagos finches through the research of Peter and Rosemary Grant. Bibliography lists 4 sources.
Filename: RAggfin.rtf

Philippine Monkey-Eating Eagle
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3 pages in length. As much of an asset the Monkey-eating eagle is to the Philippine environment, this particular raptor is an endangered species whose habitat is quickly succumbing to the ravages of farming and logging; when the habitat is gone, so too will the eagle. Being that the Monkey-eating eagle is essentially forced to remain where it is, it must therefore deal with changes in its environment as influenced by its number one threat: man. In an effort to stake its own survival within the scheme of perpetual evolution, humanity has taken to infiltrating such sacred places as the Philippine rain forest as a means by which to acquire the raw material needed for development; moreover, there is just as much concern over poor indigenous forest dwellers who have long used the damaging slash and burn farming technique. The inevitable outcome is a conflict between the natural element and the unwelcome devastation brought about by these human activities; only through tremendous efforts by the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) will this species be able to avoid total extinction. Bibliography lists 3 sources.
Filename: TLCMonkEag.rtf

Pit Bull Fighting And Laboratory Research: Animal Rights
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8 pages in length. Animals provide a significant supply of goods for human beings, not the least of which supports man's medicinal, food, companion and entertainment needs. However, in spite of all the various ways animals serve mankind, there has historically been little thought given to their own right to existence, having always been considered little more than a disposable commodity. While there exists two very diverse sides to the animal rights debate, two in particular that are the most prevalent include the inhumanity of pit bull fighting rings and whether or not the animals forced to succumb to such horrendous testing procedures are actually worthy of being considered sentient creatures with rights of their own. Bibliography lists 5 sources.
Filename: TLCpitbl.wps

Political Actions of Special Interest Groups
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10 pages in length. Interest groups, a major part of American politics today, are organizations of people who share the same interest and attitudes about a particular topic. They endeavor to influence public policy. These groups are normally organized for the purpose of being with people of like-minded moral reasons, for the social aspect, and to help with the economics in forwarding their belief in their cause. This paper is based on the International Fund for Animal Welfare, and explains their actions as a special interest group. Bibliography lists 6 sources.
Filename: JGAintgr.wps

Political, Economic And Cultural Constraints That Limit The Application Of Ecology In Conserving Endangered Species
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8 pages in length. The extent to which man has rendered many of his animal counterparts as endangered is both grand and far-reaching; that he refuses to stop this environmental degradation for the sake of cultural, political and economic reasons speaks to man's inability to coexist with a quickly depleting animal population. Bibliography lists 15 sources.
Filename: TLCEcology.rtf

Possession Aggression in Dogs
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An 8 page paper which examines the causes and treatments involved in possession aggression in dogs. Bibliography lists 5 sources.
Filename: RAdogs.rtf

Preservation of Species: A Philosophical Argument Including The Principle of Charity, Species Distinction and Modern Day Considerations
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This is a 5 page paper discussing the idea of preservation of other species in the modern world. As the modern world population continues to grow to over 5 billion, the arguments of the preservation of other species shifts from the preservation of other species to the preservation of our own. At what point do humans begin to sacrifice their lifestyle, their welfares and their very lives in order to preserve other species? Traditionally, the moral and ethical arguments in regards to the preservation of other species focused on philosophical and religious discussions using the virtues of man including the strongest virtue of all; that of charity. This being said, Darwin’s evolutionary theory based on the “survival of the fittest” paved the way for man’s own preservation of his own species. While many argued whether or not distinctions between species should be clear cut in regards to their rights, modern day moral policies are based on man’s preservation and they include the traditional arguments based on religion and philosophy but also include the realities of the world today based on economic, medical and environmental concerns which when administered to the overall survival of the human race may mean the sacrifice of other species in the process of man’s own survival. Bibliography lists 4 sources.
Filename: TJspeci1.rtf