In Defense of Dolphins: The New Moral Frontier (Abridged Edition) [NOOK Book]

This e-book is an abridgment of IN DEFENSE OF DOLPHINS: THE NEW MORAL FRONTIER (Wiley-Blackwell, 2007), the groundbreaking book in which philosopher Thomas White argues that the scientific evidence is now strong enough to support the claim that dolphins are, like humans, self-aware, intelligent beings with emotions, personalities and the capacity to control their actions. Accordingly, White argues, dolphins should be regarded as "nonhuman persons" and valued as individuals. White also concludes that, from an ethical perspective, the injury, deaths and captivity of dolphins at the hands of humans are wrong.

Looking at everything from the structure of the dolphin brain, to cetacean emotional abilities and social intelligence, and the implications of the fact that humans and dolphins have dramatically different evolutionary histories, IN DEFENSE OF DOLPHINS explores the idea that, in the person of dolphins, humans have truly encountered an "alien intelligence."

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TESTIMONIALS:

[IN DEFENSE OF DOLPHINS] is a superb intellectual achievement. It combines mastery of scientific evidence together with acute ethical analysis. It is a seminal contribution to the literature on animal ethics.

Professor Andrew Linzey, Director of the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics

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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.

It is also highly readable and rich with remarkable insights into dolphin intelligence and behaviour. This is a book that everyone interested in dolphins should read - and as the human race is rightly fascinated in dolphinkind it should have a wide readership. Certainly it deserves this.

IN DEFENSE OF DOLPHINS 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
Brookfield House
Chippenham, UK

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Thomas White does the research and brings the evidence for psychological complexity in dolphins to his readers in a compelling manner. Amidst the ongoing worldwide exploitation of dolphins in drive hunts and captivity he challenges all of us to rethink how we treat these beings. This wonderful and important book could not have come at a better time.

Lori Marino, Ph.D., Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology Program, Emory University

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IN DEFENSE OF DOLPHINS is a much needed look at the current status of ethics and treatment of dolphins in a variety of conditions. Dr. White reviews current research to argue that we should reanalyze and reconsider some of the treatment issues around dolphins and human activity. As research and education strives to improve our world and our treatment of the inhabitants in it, so does this extensive exploration of the issues around another intelligent species.

Denise L. Herzing, Ph.D., Research Director, Wild Dolphin Project

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"Alien intelligence" "'nonhuman person," or . . . ? You will never think about dolphins the same way after reading this insightful and thought-provoking new book.

Jerry R. Schubel, Ph.D., President and CEO, Aquarium of the Pacific, Long Beach, California