The Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics has announced the call for papers for its tenth Annual Summer School, which will take place from 4-7 August 2025 at Merton College, Oxford. The event, one of the most prestigious in the field of animal ethics, will explore the theme of “The Ethics of Captivity.”
Scholars and professionals from various disciplines are invited to submit abstracts for potential presentations by 3 February 2025. The Summer School regularly attracts over 70 speakers and 150 attendees from across the globe, providing a platform for rigorous debate and academic exploration.
The Theme: The Ethics of Captivity
The Summer School aims to address critical ethical questions surrounding the widespread practice of keeping animals in captivity. Each year, billions of animals are confined in a range of settings, including agriculture, fur farming, experimentation, aquaculture, fashion, and breeding. They are also kept in menageries, zoos, canned hunts, circuses, and aquariums.
Participants will be asked to consider whether any of these practices can be morally justified and to reflect on the broader cultural and political implications. Key questions will include why humans continue to keep animals in captivity on such a large scale, the harm inflicted on animals by denying them their freedom, and what steps can be taken to move away from this practice.
Who Should Apply?
The Summer School is open to academics and professionals worldwide, including historians, biologists, social scientists, legal scholars, psychologists, theologians, philosophers, veterinarians, and animal protectionists. The organisers are particularly interested in interdisciplinary approaches and innovative research that addresses the under-explored ethical dimensions of animal captivity.
Abstracts of no more than 150 words should be submitted to the Director of the Summer School, Dr Clair Linzey, by the 3 February 2025 deadline. Selected papers may be considered for publication in a book volume or in the Journal of Animal Ethics.
An Established Tradition
Now in its tenth year, the Oxford Animal Ethics Summer School has established itself as a leading forum for discussing pressing ethical issues related to animals. The event has become a global gathering point for scholars and activists interested in advancing ethical perspectives on animal treatment.
Previous themes have ranged from animal suffering and public policy to the pioneers of ethical sensitivity to animals. Short films and photos from past Summer Schools are available on the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics website, showcasing the depth and diversity of topics covered.
About the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics
The Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics is an independent academic institution dedicated to pioneering ethical perspectives on animals through research, teaching, and publication. The Centre, founded by Professor Andrew Linzey, has over 100 academic fellows worldwide and is recognised for its work in advancing animal ethics as a serious academic discipline.
For more details on the 2025 Summer School and to submit an abstract, visit the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics website.
