Moral Philosophy
& Animal Ethics

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Tierethik (Nomos, 2025)

I am co-author of Tierethik, a comprehensive introduction to key approaches in animal ethics from antiquity to the present. The book explores how the anthropocentrism of Western thought can be overcome and moral status accorded to animals.

Each of the eight chapters combines a clear and accessible exposition of major ethical theories with primary texts, discussion questions, and practical case studies designed to foster critical reflection and classroom dialogue. With its extensive bibliography and glossary of essential terms, Tierethik serves as a valuable resource for students and teachers across disciplines—from philosophy and theology to biology and veterinary medicine.

available here

ABOUT

I am a postdoctoral researcher at the Messerli Research Institute, located at the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, where I have also been teaching in the “Interdisciplinary Master’s Program in Human–Animal Interactions” (IMHAI) since 2023. In February 2025, I received my doctorate in philosophy from the University of Vienna, where I also taught as a lecturer from 2024 to 2025.

In my dissertation, I focused primarily on methodological questions in animal ethics, particularly on how to overcome the limitations of impartial and rationalistic approaches to human–animal relationships through a practice-oriented perspective on moral problems. My main sources of inspiration were Cora Diamond and Ludwig Wittgenstein.

Currently, I am researching the moral significance of special (human–animal) relationships and exploring how to develop a robust concept of reasonable partiality. In this context, I am also reflecting on the ethical relevance of so-called affordances. In addition to these theoretical concerns, I am interested in more practical issues: I am developing an interdisciplinary research project on urban animals and how we might build just and hopeful relationships with them.