Andrew Fenton

Currently, my research is primarily focused on animal philosophy. I am interested in how deepening scientific understanding of the psychological capacities of various nonhuman animals should change philosophical discussions of their knowledge (beyond a simple reliabilism), agency (including their consent and dissent capacities) and treatment in captivity (primarily in laboratories). To date, my research has largely concerned chimpanzees though I am beginning to turn my attention to other animals. Some of my recent work in animal bioethics also seeks to escape a Eurocentric gaze, which is something I hope to continue to expand on.

I have published, and continue to have research interests, in areas outside animal philosophy. For example, my work in the philosophy of autism reflects my sympathies with the Neurodiversity movement. In particular, I critically engage contemporary philosophical and scientific discussions of those conditions associated with the Autism Spectrum while resisting a discourse of deficit and impairment. My work in neuroethics, beyond the philosophy of autism, (i) critically engages discussions of “enhancements” that fail to adequately recognize our embodied and embedded “nature” or (ii) reflects my general sympathies with those seeking to escape a Eurocentric gaze.