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the conduit to scientists and specialists that empowers people to protect whales, dolphins and porpoises, their cultures and their homes.
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| episode 27: 2007 December 21 |
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E27: In Defense of Dolphins: The New Moral Frontier
 This week whales-online speaks with Hilton Professor of Business Ethics and Director of the Centre for Ethics and Business, Thomas White, from the Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, about his recently published book In Defense of Dolphins: The New Moral Frontier.
As a philosopher Thomas brings a unique clarity to a subject that perplexes many people. We have done the science about dolphins– about what they can do, how they interact, how they live – but where does it lead us? He carefully and clearly explains that, in dolphins, humans have truly encountered an alien intelligence – that dolphins can be regarded as nonhuman persons and therefore should valued as individuals.
Therefore it is logical that from an ethical perspective, the injury, deaths and captivity of dolphins at the hands of humans is as wrong as it would be for any person. This is an important and insightful point – we finally understand that the challenge for that humankind is that we can no longer pretend that dolphins are just animals - they are far more than this - they are who not what – they are persons.
Reviewers have said that In Defense of Dolphins - is the most important book ever written about these animals. And, we agree!
Episode tags - Thomas White, non-human persons, rights, whale, dolphin, porpoise, wildlife, protection, the whales-online podcast
Photo credit: Thomas White
 Book Reviews
In Defense of Dolphins - the New Moral Frontier is the most important book ever written about these animals.
This is a book that has been crying out to be produced, but one that could only be properly written now. Professor White has carefully, indeed painstakingly, taken the latest scientific research and used it to address the key questions that make the case for dolphinkind to be given moral standing or rights. His case is compelling and the book is both fascinating as an exercise in the systematic distillation of information, as well as its status as the key document that makes a case for the better treatment of dolphins.
In Defense of Dolphins - the New Moral Frontier gives the human race a new and major challenge. We can no longer pretend that dolphins are just animals - unthinking, simple, reactive, living mechanisms - they are far more than this; they are the people of the sea (or as Thomas White concludes at least nonhuman persons). It is clearly no longer acceptable to cause dolphins painful deaths in nets or incarcerate them in aquaria, or otherwise hunt or persecute them. We need to rethink the way that we are treating them - and we need to do this quickly. This is now an urgent obligation for our species.
Mark Simmonds, International Director of Science Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, UK
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| Presenter: Margi Prideaux |
| Posted: 2007 December 21 |
| Duration: 19:24 |
| File size: 6.8Mg |
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