Synopses & Reviews
The Ethics of Animal Recreation and Modification studies philosophical and ethical issues arising from new technological possibilities to repair the loss of animal diversity. Several research groups are currently working toward re-creating extinct animals such as the woolly mammoth by the methods of modern genomic technology and of selective breeding. These projects challenge the main underlying tenet of conservation ethics: the extinction of a species is irreversible. For this reason alone, the idea of de-extinction, or reversing extinction, is troublesome. The purpose of this volume is to offer systematic philosophical and ethical analysis on animal de-extinction in the context of ecological restoration. The collection consists of an introduction, epilogue and nine new articles written by philosophers. The intended readership consists of academic philosophers, ecologists and others interested in conservation biology.
Synopsis
Would it be cool to see woolly mammoth alive one day? Disappeared species have always fascinated the human mind. A new discussion of using genomic technologies to reverse extinction and to help in conservation has been sparked. This volume studies the question philosophically.
About the Author
Markku Oksanen is Academy Research Fellow at the Department of Behavioural Sciences and Philosophy, University of Turku, Finland. He is the co-editor of
Philosophy and Biodiversity (2004).
Helena Siipi works as a University Lecturer in the Department of Behavioural Sciences and Philosophy at the University of Turku, Finland.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements
Notes on the Contributors
Introduction: Toward the Philosophy of Resurrection Science; Markku Oksanen and Helena Siipi
1. Can We Really Re-create an Extinct Species by Cloning? A Metaphysical Analysis; Julien Delord
2. The Restorationist Argument for Extinction Reversal; Derek Turner
3. What's So Special about Reconstructing a Mammoth? Ethics of Breeding and Biotechnology in Re-creating Extinct Species; Christian Gamborg
4. Authencity of Animals; Helena Siipi
5. Bioengineered Domestication: 'Wild Pets' as Species Conservation?; Elisa Aaltola
6. From Protection to Restoration: A Matter of Responsible Precaution; Anne I. Myhr and Bjørn K. Myskja
7. Just Fake It! Public Understanding of Ecological Restoration; Bart Gremmen
8. Biodiversity and the Value of Human Involvement; Markku Oksanen
Epilogue; Helena Siipi and Markku Oksanen
Index