Abstract
Most philosophers addressing the issue of meaning in life seem to think that non-human animals cannot have a meaningful life because only humans have what it takes to do so. In this paper, I discuss three prominent philosophical theories of meaning in life, all of which implicitly or explicitly deny non-human animals the possibility of living a meaningful life. I will argue that none of them is convincing and that we should embrace a more comprehensive and inclusive understanding of meaning in life that allows for non-human lives to be meaningful and in their own right worth living.
Recommended Citation
Hauskeller, Michael
(2020)
"Living Like a Dog: Can the Life of Non-Human Animals Be Meaningful?,"
Between the Species:
Vol. 23:
Iss.
1, Article 1.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/bts/vol23/iss1/1