Social lack of animal ethics: hidden education

Abstract

This article explores the implicit and hidden ideas about non-human animals that are commonly embraced and reproduced within contemporary society. It analyzes how societal values perpetuate and normalize the abuse, exploitation and disdain towards animals, as well as the destruction of their habitats. By integrating perspectives from critical pedagogy, environmental education, and animal ethics studies, the paper proposes an educational agenda to challenge and transform prevailing hegemonic values. It advocates for pedagogical efforts that ethically embrace the concept of animal otherness. The proposed contributions emphasize the importance of cultivating knowledge, values, skills, attitudes, and behaviors both within and beyond educational settings to promote an alternative system of animal ethics. This approach is described as a pathway to fostering critical responsibility towards animals and life on Earth as a whole.