David DeGrazia

Papers

Total Citations

102

H-Index

About

David DeGrazia is a leading moral philosopher whose work reshapes how we think about who—and what—deserves moral consideration. His primary research areas span bioethics, animal ethics, and the philosophy of mind, with a particular focus on moral status, consciousness, and the foundations of ethical standing. DeGrazia’s most influential contribution is his “interest-based model” of moral status, which argues that the capacity for consciousness—not species membership—is the key criterion for having interests and, therefore, moral worth. His landmark paper, “An Interest-Based Model of Moral Status” (2021), has garnered 46 citations and systematically defends the view that sentience is necessary for moral status, while being human is neither necessary nor sufficient. In “Sentience and Consciousness as Bases for Attributing Interests and Moral Status” (2020, 32 citations), he critically examines the empirical evidence for consciousness in nonhuman animals, pushing the boundaries of applied ethics. More recently, DeGrazia has ventured into emerging technologies, asking in “Robots with Moral Status?” (2022, 24 citations) what future advanced robots would need to possess to qualify as moral patients. His work is essential reading for anyone grappling with the boundaries of the moral community—from animal rights to artificial intelligence.