ABSTRACT

In this paper, I engage the concern of belongingness to expose how, in the literature, discussions that focus on a capacity-based approach have the effect of excluding nonhumanity from moral consideration. I argue that the capacity-based focus of much discussion of human-animal moral status and wellbeing is problematic because excluding non-animal life and the environment in any meaningful way from its moral considerability is destructive, limited, and flawed. In particular, I consider a dominant capacity—sentience. I questioned the adequacy of the sentience criterion as it prompts us to focus on a narrow ‘we’. Instead, I offer an ubuntu-inspired perspective with two fundamental irreducible insights that might help ground a receptive picture of the world. The first, communion, stresses the importance of healthy relationships. Here, I draw from Thaddeus Metz’s idea of communion. Notwithstanding the controversies surrounding his account, I hold that there are certain strands in this view that are helpful for enlarging our ethical conceptual boundaries. The second, shared locatedness, links humanity and nonhumanity within a ‘location,’ redirecting us to an expanded vision of wellbeing. Both insights allow me to contribute to environmental concerns, including the problems of habitat and biodiversity loss. I show that the material ‘dislocations’ of beings from their habitats are a critical concern for the well-being of those affected, particularly those in the weaker group. This is how I use ideas from ubuntu philosophy to shape our understanding of belongingness, including our attitudes toward, humans, animals, and the environment.

SPEAKER BIO

Olusegun Steven Samuel is a Research Fellow at the Center for Interdisciplinary and Intercultural Studies, University of Tuebingen, Germany. Prior to this position, Olusegun earned his Ph.D. in Humanities and Languages (Philosophy) at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), Australia. His areas of interest include environmental and intercultural philosophy, moral theory, epistemology, and comparative philosophy. Olusegun’s research focuses on the broad theme of moral status and belonging, hierarchy, participation, justice, race, wellbeing, and decoloniality.

DETAILS

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