This thesis tackles the dichotomy between animalism and conservation: that is, between

the view that the health of ecosystems ought to be prioritized and the view that

intrinsically valuable individual animals ought to be respected. This thesis is not a

discussion of ethical theory and does not present arguments about the moral

permissibility of conservation practices. Instead, this is a presentation of new directions

for animal justice in a multispecies world such that animals can be respected while

ecosystems are valued.

I analyse the theories of justice put forth by John Rawls (1972, 2001), Amartya Sen

(2008, 2009), Martha Nussbaum (2006) and Robert Garner (2013). From this, I

illustrate a gap in these theories pertaining to their accounts of human-animal

relationships. Therefore, I launch a qualitative study utilizing the methodology of

Engaged Philosophy. This involves interviews with participants who work in animal-

related fields across the spectrum of animalism (animal welfare, animal rescue, animal

health, etc.) and conservation (conservation rangers, conservation science

communicators etc.). Through this study, I put forward the Central Idea of Connected

Concerns, which speaks to the reflexive connections between human and non-human

entities.

I suggest that theories of justice require a shift of focus from sentience to relationships

in order to account for animals and other non-human entities. I argue for the embedded

individual and the concept of anthroinclusivism, both of which taking the individual as

inseparable from their connections. I clarify these ideas through an analysis of Sue

Donaldson and Will Kymlicka’s (2011) Zoopolis, by depicting the shortcomings of their

version of relational justice.

Ultimately, I put forth a provisional framework of justice based on multispecies

connections by employing fundamental concepts and values from te ao Māori (the

Māori worldview). This framework includes the hybridization of holism and

individualism, and practices justice with care. I also offer a model of decision-making

based on multispecies connections called the Unfurling Koru.