BIOL 4080 – Winter 2025 – Opinion Report 2
BIOL 4080 - BIOETHICS – OPINION REPORT 2
Evaluating a Debate on an Animal Welfare Ethical Issue
DUE: Monday March 31, 2025 (by 11:59 p.m.)
Submit OPINION REPORT 2 to the Dropbox on Canvas
Late Assignments will not be accepted – April 4 is the last day of classes for winter 2024
Instructions for Opinion Report 2 on Animal Personhood
Opinion Report 2 is designed to give you an opportunity to consider the issue of animal personhood
and the resulting debate. You may refer to the ethical theories examined in this course when
addressing the concerns as outlined for this report.
Your summary should be clear, concise and the text should be less than 500 +/- 50 words in
length (excluding cover page and reference list). The text should be double-spaced using 12 pt font
in Arial or Times New Roman font and 2.5 cm margins. Use professional language with proper
spelling, grammar and sentence/paragraph structure. Remember that your Report will be evaluated
based on the quality of your writing. Refer to the marking rubric included with the Dropbox for Opinion
Report 2 for additional details.
Use the questions below as a guide for writing your summary:
1. Watch the video entitled “Animal Personhood” using the following link:
Animal Personhood (or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v18E-HEWu0g)
2. Introduce topic of animal personhood by describing the evolution of this idea through human
history. What has led to the growing interest in assigning personhood to animals in recent years?
3. Do a search to find the key criteria for establishing personhood and acknowledge the source. Then
watch the news clip on Vanilla, the chimpanzee (Vanilla’s Story). Briefly describe your reaction to
this video. Does Vanilla’s behaviour meet any of the criteria for “personhood”?
4. Check out the website for the Nonhuman Rights Project (NHRP) and describe briefly what they do.
Choose one of the examples of individual animals who have been given personhood and briefly
describe their story. (Note: there is no requirement to make donations; this resource is for information only).
5. The cases of animal personhood provided by the Nonhuman Rights Project in the United States
have focused on individual animals. In some countries, entire species are given personhood
status. Give an example and briefly describe how these situations are working in practice.
6. Currently the animal personhood approach is limited to a few animals but there is growing
pressure to use this approach to reduce animal cruelty and protect animals worldwide. Give two
examples of evidence that supports this approach (pros).
7. However this approach is being actively debated and there are reasons to not use this approach.
Think about the implications of giving personhood status to all animals including animals that are
used for human activities. Briefly describe two reasons that do not support this approach (cons).
8. Conclude by stating your opinion on the designation of animal personhood as an approach in
animal welfare ethics.
9. Provide the sources of all references that you used in your report using the CSE Number-Citation
Sequence as requested.
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BIOL 4080 - BIOETHICS – OPINION REPORT 2
Evaluating a Debate on an Animal Welfare Ethical Issue
DUE: Monday March 31, 2025 (by 11:59 p.m.)
Submit OPINION REPORT 2 to the Dropbox on Canvas
Late Assignments will not be accepted – April 4 is the last day of classes for winter 2024
Instructions for Opinion Report 2 on Animal Personhood
Opinion Report 2 is designed to give you an opportunity to consider the issue of animal personhood
and the resulting debate. You may refer to the ethical theories examined in this course when
addressing the concerns as outlined for this report.
Your summary should be clear, concise and the text should be less than 500 +/- 50 words in
length (excluding cover page and reference list). The text should be double-spaced using 12 pt font
in Arial or Times New Roman font and 2.5 cm margins. Use professional language with proper
spelling, grammar and sentence/paragraph structure. Remember that your Report will be evaluated
based on the quality of your writing. Refer to the marking rubric included with the Dropbox for Opinion
Report 2 for additional details.
Use the questions below as a guide for writing your summary:
1. Watch the video entitled “Animal Personhood” using the following link:
Animal Personhood (or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v18E-HEWu0g)
2. Introduce topic of animal personhood by describing the evolution of this idea through human
history. What has led to the growing interest in assigning personhood to animals in recent years?
3. Do a search to find the key criteria for establishing personhood and acknowledge the source. Then
watch the news clip on Vanilla, the chimpanzee (Vanilla’s Story). Briefly describe your reaction to
this video. Does Vanilla’s behaviour meet any of the criteria for “personhood”?
4. Check out the website for the Nonhuman Rights Project (NHRP) and describe briefly what they do.
Choose one of the examples of individual animals who have been given personhood and briefly
describe their story. (Note: there is no requirement to make donations; this resource is for information only).
5. The cases of animal personhood provided by the Nonhuman Rights Project in the United States
have focused on individual animals. In some countries, entire species are given personhood
status. Give an example and briefly describe how these situations are working in practice.
6. Currently the animal personhood approach is limited to a few animals but there is growing
pressure to use this approach to reduce animal cruelty and protect animals worldwide. Give two
examples of evidence that supports this approach (pros).
7. However this approach is being actively debated and there are reasons to not use this approach.
Think about the implications of giving personhood status to all animals including animals that are
used for human activities. Briefly describe two reasons that do not support this approach (cons).
8. Conclude by stating your opinion on the designation of animal personhood as an approach in
animal welfare ethics.
9. Provide the sources of all references that you used in your report using the CSE Number-Citation
Sequence as requested.
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