Weighing Animal Welfare w/ Bob Fischer

When it comes to thinking about animals, Bob Fischer believes we should be doing it more often and more deeply. A professor of philosophy at Texas State University and the author of, among other things, Animal Ethics—A Contemporary Introduction, Bob joins the podcast this week for a conversation about animal ethics, philosophy, and activism. Bob shares how empirical data and philosophical considerations can help challenge society’s cruel treatment of animals and even encourage more compassion toward them. We also discuss why people might be persuaded to care about chickens and even have their heartstrings tugged by cows but generally fail to empathize with insects. Plus, Bob tells us why quantifying animal suffering can help activists prioritize the best use of their resources, including both time and money.

Bob Fischer is an Associate Professor of Philosophy at Texas State University, a Senior Research Manager for Rethink Priorities, and the Director of the Society for the Study of Ethics and Animals. His most recent books are Animal Ethics—A Contemporary Introduction (Routledge) and Weighing Animal Welfare: Comparing Wellbeing across Species (Oxford University Press).

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