Mylan Engel
Encyclopedia
Mylan Engel Jr. is an associate professor of philosophy at Northern Illinois University
in DeKalb
.
and the University of Arizona
, he was hired by Northern Illinois University in 1988. Engel has also served as Guest Professor at the University of Innsbruck, Austria
(1999) and University of Maribor
, Slovenia
(1999–2002).
Engel's specialties are Epistemology, Philosophy of Religion
, Scottish philosopher Thomas Reid
, Animal Ethics
, and Environmental Ethics
.
Engel is a "moral vegetarian" (vegan
) -the belief that we are morally obligated to refrain from eating meat—and has argued that virtually all humans hold beliefs that, if consistently applied, would make them moral vegetarians as well.
He is also a religious skeptic who contends that there are no good reasons for believing in God. He goes on to argue that the absence of positive evidence for God's existence makes atheism (disbelief in God) more defensible than agnosticism (suspension of belief as to whether God exists or not). Here Engel points out that we generally disbelieve in creatures like unicorns—rather than merely suspend belief as to whether unicorns exist—solely on the basis of there being no good reasons to believe in such creatures. Hence, consistency demands we also disbelieve in God upon realizing all reasons put forth for God's existence are unpersuasive.
In his spare time, Engel practices the ancient art of karate. He also offers a beginners course for students at Northern Illinois University. He often stresses the importance of seriousness, along with concentration and hip thrusting. Students are required to wear proper attire which includes traditional Japanese Gi's, and bare feet.
Professor Engel has been Executive Secretary of The Society for the Study of Ethics and Animals since September, 2002.
Northern Illinois University
Northern Illinois University is a state university and research institution located in DeKalb, Illinois, with satellite centers in Hoffman Estates, Naperville, Rockford, and Oregon. It was originally founded as Northern Illinois State Normal School on May 22, 1895 by Illinois Governor John P...
in DeKalb
DeKalb
-Locations:* Municipalities in the United States:** DeKalb, Illinois, the largest city in the United States named DeKalb***DeKalb High School in that city** De Kalb, Mississippi ** De Kalb, Missouri...
.
Biography
Born in Alabama and educated at Vanderbilt UniversityVanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, the university is named for shipping and rail magnate "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided Vanderbilt its initial $1 million endowment despite having never been to the...
and the University of Arizona
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
, he was hired by Northern Illinois University in 1988. Engel has also served as Guest Professor at the University of Innsbruck, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
(1999) and University of Maribor
University of Maribor
The University of Maribor is the second university in Slovenia, established in 1975. It currently has 17 faculties.-History:The university's roots reach back to 1859, when a theological seminary was established with the encouragement of Maribor bishop and patriot Anton Martin Slomšek...
, Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
(1999–2002).
Engel's specialties are Epistemology, Philosophy of Religion
Philosophy of religion
Philosophy of religion is a branch of philosophy concerned with questions regarding religion, including the nature and existence of God, the examination of religious experience, analysis of religious language and texts, and the relationship of religion and science...
, Scottish philosopher Thomas Reid
Thomas Reid
The Reverend Thomas Reid FRSE , was a religiously trained Scottish philosopher, and a contemporary of David Hume, was the founder of the Scottish School of Common Sense, and played an integral role in the Scottish Enlightenment...
, Animal Ethics
Animal ethics
Animal ethics can refer to:*Abolitionism *Animal law*Animal rights*Animal welfare*Intrinsic value *Wildlife managementSee also*Animal rights movement*Animal testing*Animal testing regulations*Cruelty to animals...
, and Environmental Ethics
Environmental ethics
Environmental ethics is the part of environmental philosophy which considers extending the traditional boundaries of ethics from solely including humans to including the non-human world...
.
Engel is a "moral vegetarian" (vegan
Veganism
Veganism is the practice of eliminating the use of animal products. Ethical vegans reject the commodity status of animals and the use of animal products for any purpose, while dietary vegans or strict vegetarians eliminate them from their diet only...
) -the belief that we are morally obligated to refrain from eating meat—and has argued that virtually all humans hold beliefs that, if consistently applied, would make them moral vegetarians as well.
He is also a religious skeptic who contends that there are no good reasons for believing in God. He goes on to argue that the absence of positive evidence for God's existence makes atheism (disbelief in God) more defensible than agnosticism (suspension of belief as to whether God exists or not). Here Engel points out that we generally disbelieve in creatures like unicorns—rather than merely suspend belief as to whether unicorns exist—solely on the basis of there being no good reasons to believe in such creatures. Hence, consistency demands we also disbelieve in God upon realizing all reasons put forth for God's existence are unpersuasive.
In his spare time, Engel practices the ancient art of karate. He also offers a beginners course for students at Northern Illinois University. He often stresses the importance of seriousness, along with concentration and hip thrusting. Students are required to wear proper attire which includes traditional Japanese Gi's, and bare feet.
Professor Engel has been Executive Secretary of The Society for the Study of Ethics and Animals since September, 2002.
External links
- Faculty web page at the Northern Illinois University
- Video of his lecture "Do Animals Have Rights, and Does It Matter if They Don't?" at the Interdisciplinary Lectures on Animal Rights at the Ruprecht-Karls-University Heidelberg on the 7th of June 2006
- Northern Star, "Tackling the tough issues: Philosophy professor specializes in ethics; champions animal rights"
- Mylan Engel's posts at animalethics.blogspot.com
- A widely read article by Prof. Engel - "Why YOU Are Committed to the Immorality of Eating Meat” and “The Immorality of Eating Meat”. Also posted here, here and here.