Michael Allen Fox | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1940-05-07)7 May 1940 (age 85) |
| Education | |
| Alma mater | University of Toronto |
| Philosophical work | |
| Institutions | Queen's University |
| Notable works | The Case for Animal Experimentation (1986) Deep Vegetarianism (1999) |
Michael Allen Fox (born 7 May 1940) is an American/Canadian/Australian philosopher who was based atQueen's University inKingston, Ontario from 1966 until his retirement in 2005. He is the author of a number of books:The Case for Animal Experimentation: An Evolutionary and Ethical Perspective (University of California Press, 1986)—the arguments and conclusion of which he later rejected—Deep Vegetarianism (Temple University Press, 1999),The Accessible Hegel (Humanity Books, 2005),The Remarkable Existentialists (Humanity, 2009),Understanding Peace (Routledge, 2014),Home: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford University Press, 2016), andFate and Life: Who's Really in Charge? (McGill-Queen's University Press, 2024).
Fox studied for a Bachelor of Arts atCornell University and then a Master of Arts and PhD at theUniversity of Toronto. He began teaching in the Department of Philosophy atQueen's University in 1966, and remained at the institution until his retirement toArmidale, New South Wales, Australia, in 2005. He also took upvisiting positions at theUniversity of New England and theAustralian National University. He was, in 1996, theUniversity of Tasmania's James Martineau Memorial Lecturer. In addition to teaching at Queen's, he was the editor ofQueen's Quarterly for a decade.[1][2]
Fox's firstmonograph wasThe Case for Animal Experimentation: An Evolutionary and Ethical Perspective, which was published by theUniversity of California Press in 1986.[3] Fox had been unimpressed byPeter Singer's call for animal liberation in the latter's1975 book, and had dismissed Singer's arguments about the wrong ofspeciesism. Fox then published a series of papers challenging Singer's ideas, and advised several organisations onanimal experimentation.[4] InThe Case for Animal Experimentation, Fox argues that, in many cases, invasive animal testing is ethically justifiable, and that the ethical challenges to it can be overcome. He also explores a number of experiments that have received particular criticism from critics, including some addressed by Singer. Much of the book is given over to an explanation and exploration of the place of animal testing in science. Despite his defence of animal testing, Fox closes the book with a series of recommendations for how the system could be improved. The book was widely reviewed,[5][6][7][8][9][10] and a paperback edition was released in 1988.[11]
Less than a year after the book's initial publication, Fox found himself "in radical disagreement with some of its major theses".[12] Fox published a paper inBetween the Species ("Animal experimentation: a philosopher's changing views") retracting his arguments and offering a case against animal experimentation, describingThe Case for Animal Experimentation as "an embarrassment" to him. Quoting his own words on human superiority, he wrote that he "now look[s] at these arrogant remarks with dismay". He reported that critical reviews and the comments of a personal friend had been able to awaken him from "dogmatic slumber" about human duties to animals.[4] Years later, Fox published a paper inOrganization & Environment entitled "The Case Against Animal Experimentation", representing the "reversal of the view [he] once defended". This paper analysed and supplementedJoan Dunayer's critique of animal testing.[13]
After retracting his arguments inThe Case for Animal Experimentation, Fox went on to authorDeep Vegetarianism withTemple University Press in 1999.[14] In this book, Fox presents arguments in favour of vegetarianism, exploring its cultural and historical background and linking it with other progressive movements, especiallyfeminist movements.[15][16][17]
In 2005, the same year as his retirement from Queen's, Fox publishedThe Accessible Hegel, an introduction to the thought ofG. W. F. Hegel, with the Humanity Books imprint ofPrometheus Books.[18][19] Since his retirement, he has publishedThe Remarkable Existentialists (2009, Humanity Books),[20] an introduction to the thought of several figures associated withexistentialism,[21] andUnderstanding Peace: A Comprehensive Introduction in 2013 withRoutledge.[22] In the latter book, Fox presents peace as a way of life and an ideal to be aimed for, asking the question of why humans engage in violent activity and what can be done to prevent violence.[23] In 2016, hisHome: A Very Short Introduction was published as a part of theOxford University PressVery Short Introduction series.[24][25] In 2024, at age 84, Fox publishedFate and Life: Who's Really in Charge? withMcGill-Queen's University Press.
In addition to his books, Fox has published over 20 book chapters, over 40peer reviewed journal articles, over 50 book reviews and a range of other popular, academic and technical works.[2]
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