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Ryerson Home > Faculty of Arts > Philosophy Department & Arts and Contemporary Studies > Alex Wellington
           

 

Room 428
Jorgenson Hall
Ryerson University
350 Victoria Street
Toronto, Ontario Canada
, M5B 2K3

P: 416.979.5000, x4057
F: 416.979.5272

E:
awelling@philosophy.ryerson.ca awelling@ryerson.ca OR  alex.wellington@sympatico.ca

Degrees: H.B.A. and   Ph.D. (Philosophy); L.L.B. (Law) and L.L.M. (Law - Intellectual Property) and L.L.M.(Law - Alternative Dispute Resolution); M.E.S. (Environmental   Studies) - York University
 

 

A. Alex Wellington                                           

Associate Professor, Philosophy Department   

 

Areas of Interest:

Philosophy of Law (including International Law) and Philosophy of Punishment

Ethics and Human Rights (including Business and Human Rights; Health and Human Rights)

Applied and Practical Ethics

Conflict Analysis and Resolution (including Restorative Justice)

Environmental Ethics, Law and Policy

Intellectual Property Law and Policy

 

Current and Upcoming Courses:

PHL 612, Philosophy of Law

 

Courses Previously Taught: 

UNDERGRADUATE: Philosophy of Law (PHL 612); Philosophy of Punishment (PHL 449); Freedom, Equality and Limits to Authority (PHL 306, formerly Contemporary Moral Issues I); Issues in Life, Death and Hunger (PHL 406, formerly Contemporary Moral Issues II); Human Rights and Justice (PHL 400); Bioethics (PHL 509), Ethics in Health Care (PHL 302) and Ethics in Health Services Management (PHL 444); Business Ethics (PHL 307); Media Ethics (PHL 530); Ethics in Professional Life (PHL 334); Philosophy of Intellectual Property and Technology (PHL 921); Philosophy of the Natural Environment (PHL 500)

GRADUATE: Environmental Law (ES 8921, EnSciMan); Human Rights and Justice (PH8107, Philosophy)

Publications - Articles, Book Chapters and Book Reviews

 

"Water Ethics". In book: Reference Module in Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences, 2017. DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-12-409548-9.10488-9

"Review of On Emotion: Philosophical Essays, edited by John Deigh". Philosophical Quarterly, 2015. doi: 10.1093/pq/pqv104
"Environmental Law", co-authored with Allan Greenbaum. In Laurence Olivo, editor, Introduction to Law, Chapter 34 (Captus Press, 2014). Revised from Chapter 34 (Captus Press, 2009).
"Intellectual Property Law", co-authored with Jean Dryden. In Laurence Olivo, editor, Introduction to Law, Chapter 33 (Captus Press, 2014). Revised from Chapter 33, co-authored with Teresa Cheung (Captus Press, 2009).
"Should Feminists Embrace Vegetarianism?". In James Cunningham, Samuel Hillier and Donal O'Reardon, editors, Introducing Philosophy: Questions and Readings. Emond Montgomery Publications, 2014. Revised from Alex Wellington, "Feminist Positions on Vegetarianism: A Response to Nicholas Dixon", Between the Species, Summer and Fall 1995, pp. 98-104.
"To Ban or Not To Ban: Direct To Consumer Advertising and Human Rights Analysis". In Wesley Cragg, editor, Business and Human Rights. Edward Elgar, 2012.

"'Exquisite Examples' of Creative Judicial Dispute Resolution: The Potential of Alternative Dispute Resolution for Intellectual Property Cases", Intellectual Property Journal, Volume 23 (3), 2011, 289-326.

"Doha Declaration"; "Intellectual Property Rights"; "Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs)"; "World Intellectual Property Organization" and "Water". In Deen Chatterjee, editor, Encyclopedia of Global Justice (Springer, 2011).
"To Ban or Not To Ban: Direct To Consumer Advertising and Human Rights Analysis", Australasian Medical Journal, Volume 3, 2010, 749-766.
"Introduction". Co-Authored with Allan Greenbaum and Ron Pushchak. In Allan Greenbaum, Ron Pushchak and Alex Wellington, editors, Canadian Issues in Environmental Law and Policy (Toronto, ON: Captus Press, 2009). Pages 1-28.
"Bulk Water Removal: Legal and Political Issues". Co-Authored with Mary Rollinson-Lorimer. In Allan Greenbaum, Ron Pushchak and Alex Wellington, editors, Canadian Issues in Environmental Law and Policy (Toronto, ON: Captus Press, 2009). Pages 295-327.
"The Metes and Bounds of Purposive Claim Construction in Canadian Patent Law", Intellectual Property Journal, Volume 18(1), May 2004.
"Professional Ethics for Mediators: Tensions Between Justice and Accountability". In Cheryl Hughes and James Wong, editors. Communication, Conflict and Reconciliation. Volume 17, Social Philosophy Today (Charlottesville, VA: Philosophy Documentation Center, 2003). Pages 125-130.
"'Rewriting Genesis': Intellectual Property Rights and Global (In)Justice". In Yeager Hudson, editor, Globalism and the Obsolescence of the State. Volume 20, Studies in Social and Political Theory (Lewiston, N.Y.: Edwin Mellen Press, 1999). Pages 45-79.
"Taking Codes of Ethics Seriously: Alternative Dispute Resolution and Reconstitutive Liberalism". Canadian Journal of Law and Jurisprudence, Volume 12(2), July 1999. Pages 297-332.

“Should We Patent Life Forms? Applying Intellectual Property to Life Forms”. Policy Options, Volume 17(4), May 1996. Pages 7-11.

“Why Liberals Should Support Same Sex Marriage”. Journal of Social Philosophy, Volume 26, Number 3, Winter 1995. Pages 5-32.

Reprinted in W. Cragg and C. Koggel, eds., Contemporary Moral Issues, Fourth Edition. McGraw-Hill, 1999; W. Cragg and C. Koggel, eds., Fifth Edition, 2005 and Fourth Edition, 1997.

Reprinted in S. Dimock and C. Tucker, eds., Applied Ethics: Reflective Moral Reasoning. Nelson, Thomson, 2004.

Reprinted in J. McDonald, editor, Contemporary Moral Issues in a Diverse Society. Wadsworth Publishing Company, 1998.

“Outing: The Supposed Justifications”. Co-authored with Andrea Austen, Canadian Journal of Law and Jurisprudence, Volume 8, Number 1, January 1995. Pages 83-105.

Publications - Books:

Allan Greenbaum and Alex Wellington, Environmental Law and Policy in the Canadian Context. (Toronto, ON: Captus Press, 2010).
Allan Greenbaum, Ron Pushchak and Alex Wellington, editors, Canadian Issues in Environmental Law and Policy. (Toronto, ON: Captus Press, 2009).
Allan Greenbaum, Alex Wellington and Ron Pushchak, Environmental Law in Social Context (Toronto, ON: Captus Press, 2002).
Alex, Wellington, Allan Greenbaum and Wesley Cragg, editors, Canadian Issues in Environmental Ethics (Peterborough, ON: Broadview Press, 1997).

Other Publications - Reports

Ted Schrecker and Alex Wellington, Patenting of Higher Life Forms and Human Biological Materials: An Introduction to the Issues. Prepared for Project Steering Committee on Intellectual Property and the Patenting of Higher Life Forms. (Ottawa, ON: Canadian Biotechnology Advisory Committee, 2001).
Ted Schrecker and Alex Wellington, Patenting of Biotechnological Innovations Concerning Animals and Human Beings. (Ottawa, ON: Canadian Biotechnology Advisory Committee, 2000; completed 1999).
Ted Schrecker, C. Barry Hoffmaster, Margaret A. Somerville and Alex Wellington, Biotechnology, Ethics and Government, in Renewal of the Canadian Biotechnology Strategy, Resource Document 3.4.1, Background Research Papers, Ethics (Ottawa, ON: Industry Canada, March 1998; completed 1996), 135-261.

Presentations

 

"Contrasting Legal Reforms Relating to Sex Work and Medical Assistance In Dying: Post Bedford and Carter".Canadian Political Science Association (CPSA), Congress, University of Regina, May 31, 2018; International Association for Philosophy of Law and Social Philosophy, Canadian Section CS-IVR, University of Quebec at Montreal, June 3, 2018.

"The Human Right To Water and Responsibilities of Business: Rights, Utilities and Virtues". Business Ethics in the 6ix, Ted Rogers School of Management, Ryerson University, May 14, 2018.

"Human Rights Theory and Balancing Legal Rights: Gender Identity and Gender Expression in Criminal and Human Rights Law Reform". Canadian Political Science Association (CPSA), Congress, Ryerson University, May 30, 2017 and International Association for Philosophy of Law and Social Philosophy, Canadian Section CS-IVR, Congress, Ryerson University, May 27, 2017.

Commentary on Carson Young, "Should You Be A Locavore?". Business Ethics in the 6ix, Ted Rogers School of Management, Ryerson University, May 8, 2017.

"Obedience to Law and Justification of Punishment". Association for Practical and Professional Ethics (APPE), Twenty-Sixth Annual Conference, Dallas, Texas, February 25, 2017.

"Obedience to Law and Justification of Punishment: What Crito Should Have Said". " International Association for Philosophy of Law and Social Philosophy, Canadian Section (CS-IVR), Congress, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, May 28, 2016.

"Corporate Responsibility and Liability to Punishment", and "Complexities of Consent in Women's Reproductive and Sexual Labour". XXVII World Congress of the International Association for Philosophy of Law and Social Philosophy, Geogetown Law Centre, Washington DC, July 28 and July 30, 2015.

"Ethical Innovation: An Imperative for Our Time". Global Justice, Global Health Conference, Ryerson University, May 7, 2015.

"Yes Means Yes, Or Does It?: Complexities of Consent in Women's Reproductive and Sexual Labour". Business Ethics Speaker Series, Ted Rogers School, Ryerson University, March 12, 2015. 

"Corporate Responsibility and Liability to Punishment: Hart's Sea Captain Revisited". Society for Business Ethics (SBE), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, August 2, 2014.

"Corporate Responsibility and Liability to Punishment", International Association for Philosophy of Law and Social Philosophy, Canadian Section (CS-IVR), Congress, Brock University, St Catharines, May 29, 2014.

"Commentary on Lendell Chad Horne, "What Makes Health Care 'Special'?", Canadian Philosophical Association (CPA), Congress, Brock University, St Catharines, May 28, 2014.

"Theorizing Collective and Corporate Punishment: Hart's Sea Captain Revisited". McMaster University Philosophy Speaker Series, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, March 7, 2014.

"From Thought Experiments to the Real World: Experimental Philosophy and Teaching and Research in Practical Ethics". Keynote Address for the Canadian Society for the Study of Practical Ethics (CSSPE), Congress, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, June 4, 2013.

"Rethinking Corporate Punishment", International Association for Philosophy of Law and Social Philosophy, Canadian Section, Congress, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, June 1, 2013.

"Promoting Access to Medicines Through Performance Based Innovation Rewards". Academics Stand Against Poverty (ASAP), Ryerson University, October 27, 2012.
"Conceptualizing Compliance in the Context of International Law", International Association for Philosophy of Law and Social Philosophy, Canadian Section, Congress, University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario, May 26, 2012.
"Genetic Injustice and Noxious Markets", 28th International Social Philosophy Conference, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, July 21, 2011.
"The Right to Water: Human Rights and Global Justice", 27th International Social Philosophy Conference, Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario, July 15, 2010.
"The Nature and Justification of International Law: Focusing on the Intersectionality of Human Rights", International Association for Philosophy of Law and Social Philosophy, Canadian Section, Congress, Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec, May 29, 2010.
"Ethical Governance and Benefit Sharing in Biomedical Research", Second Annual Pan American Collaboration for Ethics in the Professions (PACE), University of Texas- Pan American, Edinburg, Texas, April 13, 2010.
"Symposium on Business Ethics and Human Rights", Canadian Business Ethics Research Network (CBERN), York University, Toronto, Ontario, February 25-28, 2010.
"Banning Direct to Consumer Advertising of Pharmaceuticals: A Human Rights Analysis of Third Party Paternalism for Policy Reasons": Society for Business Ethics (SBE), Annual Meeting, Chicago, Illinois, August 7, 2009.
"Benefit Sharing and Human Rights in Contest: Governance Models to the Rescue?". Co-Presented with Mary Rollinson-Lorimer. Association for Practical and Professional Ethics (APPE), Eighteenth Annual Meeting, Cincinnati, Ohio, March 7, 2009.
"Human Rights to Health and Environmental Protection": Rhetoric versus Reality". Co-Presented with Mary Rollinson-Lorimer, Environmental Studies Association of Canada (ESAC), Vancouver, British Columbia, June 6, 2008.
"Policy Debates Over Direct to Consumer Advertising", Canadian Society for the Study of Practical Ethics (CSSPE), Vancouver, British Columbia, June 2, 2008.
"Banning Direct to Consumer Advertising of Pharmaceuticals", Association for Practical and Professional Ethics (APPE), Seventeenth Annual Meeting, San Antonio, Texas, February 23, 2008.
"Human Rights and Intellectual Property: Tensions and Hopes for Reconciliation", Association for Practical and Professional Ethics (APPE), Fifteenth Annual Meeting, Jacksonville, Florida, March 3, 2006.
"Human Rights and Intellectual Property: Critique, Proposals for Reform and Three Generations", Association for Legal and Social Philosophy, Trinity College, Dublin, July 1, 2006.
"Freedom of Expression and Intellectual Property: Censorship, Silencing and Copyright", Ethics, Creativity and Copyright Conference, University of Calgary and Banff Centre, August 4, 2006.
"Researchers' Ethics Under the Microscope: Clashing Cultures and Competing Virtues". Association for Practical and Professional Ethics (APPE), Fourteenth Annual Meeting, San Antonio, Texas, February 25, 2005.

Research Projects

SSHRC Funded Research, Standard Research Grant Principal Investigator          2006-2009                     

Project: "Ethical Challenges of Biotechnology Governance: Sustainability Through Innovation, Human Rights and Environmental Protection"

SSHRC Funded Research Development Initiative (Co-Investigator)                    Principal Investigator: Wesley Cragg

Project: "Ethics at the Business/ Health Care Interface"

SSHRC Funded Strategic Knowledge Cluster (Co-Investigator), 2007-2014            Principal Investigator: Wesley Cragg

Project: CBERN, Canadian Business Ethics Research Network

Participation of Student Researchers in Research Projects

Summer 2007, Summer 2008, Fall 2008 and Winter 2009
Student Researchers: Susan Lai, Communication and Culture (Masters) (Summer 2008)
Mary Rollinson-Lorimer, Environmental Applied Science and Management (Masters) (All 4 Terms) 
Liana Anoushka Pullenayegem, Environmental Applied Science and Management (Masters) (Summer 2007)
Project: Ethical Challenges of Biotechnology Governance: Sustainability Through Innovation, Human Rights and Environmental Protection
Source of Funding: SSHRC Grant
Summer 2010

Student: Maya Nightingale-Fitzer, Arts and Contemporary Studies (Bachelors)                                 

Project: Application of Human Rights Impact Assessment to Selected Case Studies                            

Source of Funding: Undergraduate Research Opportunities (URO) Scholars Program, Office of Research Services (ORS)Ryerson University

Research Project: Litigation Strategies for Climate Justice

Student Researcher: Peter Moore, Environmental Applied Science and Management (Masters) (Winter - Summer 2012)

Student Researcher: David Spence, Environmental Applied Science and Management (Masters) (Winter - Summer 2011)

Source of Funding: Faculty of Arts, Ryerson University

 

Graduate Supervision

Environmental Applied Science and Management Masters (MASc) program

Student: Khadijah Moinuddin (Supervisor)

Thesis Title: Filling the Integrity Gaps in Protection of Species at Risk Through Litigation and Stewardship: Policy Evaluation With a Focus on Ontario

Completion: January 2018

Student: Heather Adams (Co- Supervisor)
Thesis Title: Water Scarcity: Policy Evaluation with a Focus on Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario

Completion: September 2015

Student: Lisa Kingsmore (Co-Supervisor)

Thesis Title: The Management of Post-Consumer Pharmaceutical Waste: A Comparison Between British Columbia and Ontario Programs

Completion: September 2013

Student: Marilena Di Giuseppe (Supervisor)

Thesis Title: Bridging Science and Law Across Jurisdictions in Canadian Species At Risk Policy: Four Case Studies

Completion: January 2011

Philosophy Masters (MA) Program

Student: Laila Khoshkar (Co-Supervisor)

Major Research Paper Title: Toward an Interdependent Conception of the Self:

Implications for Canadian Policy Reform

Completion: May 2018

Student: Jenny Duffy (Supervisor)

Major Research Paper Title: A Feminist Response to Critiques of Sex Work: Drawing on Lived Experiences

Completion: May 2017

Student: Anthony Miller (Co-Supervisor)

Major Research Paper Title: Fiery Spirits and the Temperate Man: The Importance of Hobbes's Moral Psychology

Completion: May 2017

Student: Rebecca Kovacs (Supervisor)

Thesis TitleAcknowledging Nonhuman Persons: Reconstituting Our Conception of Personhood

Completion: May 2017

Student: Parisa Samet (Co-Supervisor)

Major Research Paper Title: Reconceiving Consent in Relation to Pregnancy and Parenting

Completion: May 2016

Student: Ayesha Bhatti (Supervisor)

Major Research Paper Title: Towards Global Justice: Access to Medications and the Need for Incentives

Completion: May 2015

 

Other Activities:

Ethics@Ryerson: Ethics Network

Treasurer (and Past President) of Canadian Section of International Association for Philosophy of Law and Social Philosophy (CS-IVR)