During this time, I sometimes thought about the existential philosophy of Albert Camus. In one essay, Camus wrote about Sisyphus, the mythical Greek hero who was condemned for eternity to push a boulder up a hill, only for the boulder to roll back down every time. Camus argued that even in a hopeless situation, what matters is our attitude toward it. We find dignity and meaning in fighting for our beliefs.
When I began college, in 1961, I thought I might major in philosophy. My father didn’t say much about my idea, but my mother thought it was impractical. What good would a philosophy major do when I entered the real world? She joked that the only job she could foresee was writing words of wisdom in fortune cookies.
After taking a few courses on various topics, I decided to focus on psychology. I eventually became a professor in this field. But in college I was still able to study philosophy and a fairly wide range of academic subjects, and I have maintained these interests.
Surprisingly, my broad intellectual interests have had real-world consequences. For in addition to my work as a professor, I became deeply involved in social causes, and scholarly ideas have influenced my activism. I would like to tell you how they have guided by my efforts to protect black bears.
These efforts began in 1997. Our family lived in Teaneck, New Jersey, and I read that the State planned to establish annual black bear hunts. I immediately decided to oppose the plan at an upcoming public hearing.
At that time, my response was primarily emotional. I was only beginning to put my thoughts together. I wanted to tell the officials at the hearing that humans have moral obligations toward nonhuman animals, but I couldn’t make a good case. I hoped to do better in the future.
To improve my arguments, I thought back to my philosophy readings. At first I didn’t find much of relevance. Western philosophers, like our society in general, have often believed that nonhuman animals are so inferior that they don’t merit moral consideration. Then I turned to Utilitarian philosophers like Jeremy Bentham and Peter Singer, who emphasize that other animals also feel pain. Believing that we have a moral obligation to reduce suffering in the world, Utilitarians argue that we must help the animals.
I also updated my knowledge of biological findings. Research on genomes—organisms’ total DNA—was revealing stunning similarities between humans and other animals. Meanwhile, animal researchers were discovering that we share many emotions. The findings supported Darwin’s view that all species are related. When we mistreat nonhuman animals, we are mistreating our relatives.
I made these points--from philosophy and biology--at public hearings and forums. Other people presented other arguments and petitioned government officials. Our efforts, led by the Animal Protection League of New Jersey, met with success. In 2000, Governor Christie Whitman suspended the hunts. But in 2003, the yearly hunts officially began.
Since then, three Governors have halted the hunts for varying
periods. But overall, the hunts have proceeded, killing an average
of about 400 bears a year. My protests have included arrests for
civil disobedience and jail time, but I have sometimes felt that
nothing works. I struggled with this feeling most often during the
past two years, after Governor Phil Murphy, who had initially
stopped the hunts, reinstated them.
During this time, I sometimes thought about the existential
philosophy of Albert Camus. In one essay, Camus wrote about
Sisyphus, the mythical Greek hero who was condemned for eternity to
push a boulder up a hill, only for the boulder to roll back down
every time. Camus argued that even in a hopeless situation, what
matters is our attitude toward it. We find dignity and meaning in
fighting for our beliefs.
This fall I took Camus to heart and drove to a bear hunt check
station, where hunters bring the bears they have killed. I wore a
sign that read, “Mother Nature is Crying.” No other protesters were
present. I stood where government officials, police, and hunters
could read my sign. When I refused to leave, I was arrested.
I don’t know if this arrest will result in more jail time, but it
was my way of continuing to fight hard for the bears. And Camus’s
philosophy strengthened my resolve.
Bill Crain is professor emeritus of psychology at the City College of New York and cofounder of the Safe Haven Farm Sanctuary. He is a recipient of a PETA Hero to Animals Award.