The Essay: New Generation Thinkers

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The Essay: New Generation Thinkers at 10: Beastly Politics

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New Generation Thinkers at 10

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Alasdair Cochrane re-imagines a political world that takes animal rights seriously.

Is man the only political beast? New Generation Thinker Alasdair Cochrane argues that animals should have greater rights.

From pension schemes for police force dogs to political rights - can other animals be regarded as members of our democratic communities, with rights to political consideration, representation or even participation? New Generation Alasdair Cochrane, from the University of Sheffield, believes that the exclusion of non-humans from civic institutions cannot be justified, and explores recent attempts in court to re-imagine a political world that takes animals seriously.

The Essay was recorded in front of an audience at BBC Radio 3's Free Thinking Festival of Ideas at Sage Gateshead in 2014. The court case referred to in the Essay was ruled on by a court in New York in 2017 when it was judged that in the case of caged adult male chimps Tommy and Kiko that there is no precedent for apes being considered people.

The New Generation Thinkers scheme is ten years old in 2020. Jointly run by BBC and the Arts and Humanities Research Council, each year it offers ten academics at the start of their careers a chance to bring fascinating research to a wider public. This week we hear five essays from this last decade of stimulating ideas. 

You can find a playlist of other Essays, Documentaries and Discussions featuring New Generation Thinkers from across the different years on the Free Thinking website. 

Producer: Jacqueline Smith

The Essay: New Generation Thinkers at 10

Live music and the arts: broadcasts more live music than any other radio network. Classical music is its core. Genres include world and new music, jazz, speech and drama.

Celebrating a decade of stimulating ideas from the New Generation Thinkers scheme.

Five essays selected from the first decade of the New Generation Thinkers scheme, jointly run by BBC Radio 3 and the Arts and Humanities Research Council.

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