The tenth Annual Oxford Animal Ethics Summer School, to be held at Merton College, Oxford, from 4-7 August 2025, is calling for experts to submit abstracts for presentations on the ethics of animal captivity. The event, organised by the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics, will explore the moral implications of keeping billions of animals in captivity worldwide.
The Summer School is a platform for leading scholars and professionals to tackle complex ethical questions, including whether the widespread confinement of animals can be morally justified. Key themes will include the use of animals in agriculture, fur farming, aquaculture, breeding, fashion, experimentation, zoos, circuses, and aquariums. Attendees will explore why humans keep animals captive on such a vast scale, what harm this practice causes by denying animals their natural freedoms, and what can be done legally and culturally to move beyond such practices.
Director of the Summer School, Dr Clair Linzey, said the call for papers is open to a wide range of disciplines, inviting perspectives from historians, biologists, social scientists, legal experts, theologians, psychologists, philosophers, and veterinarians. She emphasised the need for further exploration of this under-researched area of ethics, urging academics to contribute new insights on the moral dimensions of captivity.
Experts interested in presenting at the event are asked to submit abstracts of no more than 150 words by 3rd February 2025. Selected papers will be considered for publication in a future book or in the Journal of Animal Ethics, giving presenters an opportunity to reach a wider audience.
The Summer School has established itself as a key international event in the field of animal ethics, attracting over 70 speakers and more than 150 attendees annually. Previous participants have included professionals from animal protection organisations, academics, and legal scholars. Photos and short films from the ninth Annual Summer School, which took place in 2024, are available on the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics website.
This year’s theme, “The Ethics of Captivity,” comes at a time of growing debate about animal rights and welfare, particularly regarding practices such as industrial farming and wildlife confinement in zoos. Dr Linzey said that the event offers a unique forum for thought leaders to reflect on these critical issues and explore possible solutions to reduce animal suffering.
The Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics, which hosts the Summer School, is a global institution dedicated to pioneering ethical perspectives on animals. The Centre promotes academic research, teaching, and publications related to animal welfare. Its network includes over 100 academic Fellows from around the world who contribute to advancing knowledge in the field of animal ethics.
Those interested in learning more about the Summer School, submitting abstracts, or viewing past events can visit the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics website.
As the debate over the ethics of animal captivity continues to intensify, the 2025 Summer School aims to shed light on these pressing moral questions and foster meaningful dialogue on how society can evolve to better protect animals.
