James Rachels

James Webster Rachels (May 30, 1941 – September 5, 2003) was an American philosopher specializing in ethics and animal rights. Born in Columbus, Georgia, he graduated from Mercer University in 1962 and earned his Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1967. He taught at various universities, including the University of Richmond, New York University, University of Miami, Duke University, and for the last twenty-six years of his career, at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). At UAB, he served as Chair of Philosophy, Dean of Arts and Humanities, and later as University Professor. Rachels was a prolific writer, authoring 6 books and 85 essays. He was a prominent advocate for moral vegetarianism, animal rights, affirmative action, and euthanasia. His work also explored the ethical implications of Darwinism and the moral consideration of nonhuman animals. Rachels's best-known book is "The Elements of Moral Philosophy," which was revised by his son, Stuart Rachels. His essay "Active and Passive Euthanasia" (1975) argued against the moral distinction between killing and letting die. His book "Created from Animals" (1990) examined the philosophical implications of Darwinism for human-animal relations. Rachels died of cancer in Birmingham, Alabama, at the age of 62.