In this recorded Horizon Session for the Futurekind Winter Fellows 2025/26, Aditya S. Karanam, Director of Learning Experiences at Electric Sheep, Animal Ethics Outreach Coordinator, and a PhD student in Philosophy and Logic, delivers an accessible and thought-provoking introduction to Animal Ethics.

In many societies, the interests of animals are routinely overlooked or denied serious moral consideration. For anyone interested in advocating for animals, understanding the ethical foundations behind why animals matter is essential. In this 45-minute talk, Aditya introduces key concepts in animal ethics and equips listeners with core arguments for the moral consideration of animals.

The session focuses primarily on speciesism - the discrimination against beings based on their species. Aditya explores what speciesism is, presents major arguments for and against it, and examines why it is rejected across multiple ethical frameworks. He also discusses how speciesism affects both farmed and wild animals, grounding abstract philosophy in real-world implications.

The talk concludes with practical reflections on what individuals can do to challenge speciesism in their thinking, advocacy, and everyday choices.