Title: Towards an interspecies health policy : great apes and the right to health

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Cover Page

The handle http://hdl.handle.net/1887/87894 holds various files of this Leiden University dissertation.

Author: Nieuwland, J.

Title: Towards an interspecies health policy : great apes and the right to health

Issue Date: 2020-05-13

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541146-L-bw-Nieuwland 541146-L-bw-Nieuwland 541146-L-bw-Nieuwland 541146-L-bw-Nieuwland Processed on: 15-4-2020 Processed on: 15-4-2020 Processed on: 15-4-2020

Processed on: 15-4-2020 PDF page: 227PDF page: 227PDF page: 227PDF page: 227

227 Acknowledgements

Individual accomplishments should not be separated from the social fabric from which they arise. I am indebted to many for contributing to the realization of the present thesis.

Little did I realize beforehand that, as a result of signing up for Raymond Corbey’s course on the subject of philosophical anthropology, great apes would for several years not only become our focal point when discussing human and non-human animals, but that it would also culminate in the dissertation presented here. If not for Raymond’s astute observations concerning what my future could hold, I would have surely missed out on this remarkable chance to create a bridge between animals and philosophy. His support as well as our friendly, spirited deliberations have surely made this endeavor more than worthwhile.

Franck Meijboom has supported my philosophical wanderings from the very beginning for which I am very grateful. His ability to carefully listen and dissect the complexity of burgeoning ideas has put me on track towards numerous insights. The synergy of our

collaboration through the years continues to serve as a catalyst for my philosophical research.

At the Institute for Philosophy of Leiden University, Bruno Verbeek proved an invaluable interlocutor. Whatever proposition is placed before him, he engages with an unperturbed curiosity, candor and a striking sense of humor. Tim Meijers showed me how to be a thinker with gusto. Thomas Fossen meticulously deconstructs philosophical viewpoints with a striking gift to express care for the individual proclaiming them. Frank Chouraqui brightens up any room with his cheerful demeanor, which he will not allow to be overshadowed by his genuine concern for the many troubles of this world. My Dutch inclination to think out loud contrasted with Liu Hao’s kind and gracious presence.

It is with great happiness that I reminisce about Glen Newey, while feeling deep sorrow at his death. Irreverence and playfulness bolstered Glen’s philosophical ingenuity. Writing these words, I recall how much I looked forward to responding to the no doubt astonishing question he would have asked during the defense of my thesis. His care for others and the ability to spark joy wherever possible made him one of a kind.

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228

I would like to thank Ludo Hellebrekers for hearing me out as a fellow veterinarian, hereby encouraging me to take my philosophical dispositions as seriously as he did.

My visit in April 2017 to the Gorilla Doctors in Rwanda was an amazing experience and was facilitated by the hospitable Mike Cranfield, at that time the Director and Head Veterinarian of this operation. Eddy Kambale Syaluha, Julius Nziza, Jean Bosco Noheli, Fred Nizeyimana, Methode Bahizi, Gaspard Nzayisenga, Jean Claude Tumushime, Jacques Iyanya and Martin Kabuyaya Balyananziu all very kindly provided me with valuable insights into the human-ape interface pertaining to this specific geographical context.

Needless to say, this thesis would not have been possible without the support of the Arcus Foundation to whom I am wholeheartedly indebted to for funding independent research into the issue of human-animal coexistence. In particular, I would like to thank Adam Phillipson and Annette Lanjouw for their assistance from the very start.

I have Peter Richardus to thank dearly for his excellent editing of the thesis manuscript, a great and friendly help in my aspiration to articulate ideas with clarity and style.

It is a great privilege to have my PhD thesis critically reviewed by Prof. Dr. J.C.A. Kolen, Prof. Dr. M.J. Versluys, Dr. B. Bovenkerk, Dr. A. Cochrane, Prof. Dr. M.F. Verweij, Dr.

J.J.M. Sleutels and Dr. T. Meijers.

I consider myself fortunate to be able to rely upon my friends and family for providing me with the support required when pursuing this endeavor. My colleague and friend Maite keeps getting me into insightful deliberations filled with laughter. I realize that Evert, my longtime friend who is gifted with a remarkable sense of humor and stoic honesty, knows me as I know him: the assuring feature of a childhood friendship. Lennart has patiently endured the naiveté of my early ventures into the realm of philosophy while sharpening my thoughts with his questions. My regular conversations with Nick greatly supported me in realizing my unconventional aspirations, demonstrating what friendship is about.

Evelyn and Johan, my mother and father, have always provided my brother Matthias and me with a trusting and loving home, supporting our every initiative we wish to pursue, for which I owe them everything.

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229 Perhaps, Matthias is most proud of this thesis, an expression of his wonderful aptitude for sympathetic joy. As a brother, I could not be prouder.

I feel blessed with Lidia’s loving support every step of the way. To embark upon the journey of life, together with our wonderful son and daughter, Guus and Janske, fills me with great love and happiness.

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231 Curriculum vitae

Joachim (Johannes) Nieuwland was born on 15 December 1983 in Oldebroek (The Netherlands). In the summer of 2002, he graduated from high school, the Carolus Clusius College in Zwolle, starting his studies in Veterinary Medicine at Utrecht University

September the same year. In March 2010, he obtained a MSc from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University. While working as a veterinarian in the field of companion animal medicine, a Thomas More Scholarship was granted in 2012 enabling him to pursue a MA Philosophy at the University of Tilburg. There, in January 2014, he graduated cum laude on a master’s thesis entitled The Capabilities Approach and Human-Animal Coexistence.

Having secured funds from the Arcus Foundation, he acquired a PhD research position at the Institute of Philosophy (Leiden University) in October 2014. In addition to, from 2012 on, lecturing on ethics and philosophy within the curriculum at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, he is currently employed as a post-doc researcher at the Centre for Sustainable Animal Stewardship (CenSAS), a collaboration between the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (Utrecht University) and Animal Sciences (Wageningen University & Research). He has, since 2015, chaired the Board of the Queen Sophia Foundation for the Protection of Animals.

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Towards an Interspecies Health Policy

Great Apes and the Right to Health

Towards an Interspecies

Health Policy Great Apes and the Right to Health

Towar ds an Interspecies He alth P olicy: Gr ea t Apes and the Right to He alth

Joachim Nieuwland

J. Nieuwland

UITNODIGING

voor het bijwonen van de openbare verdediging

van het proefschrift

door J. Nieuwland

op woensdag 13 mei 2020 om 11:15 in het Academiegebouw

Rapenburg 73 2311 GJ Leiden

Paranimfen Evert Semeijn Maite van Gerwen

Stel je vragen aan de paranimfen op joachim@altmails.com