Animal Ethics

JULY 24, 2015

Forty years ago, the suggestion that nonhuman animals have moral rights—indeed, many of the same rights as human beings—would have been met with incredulous stares, if not outright ridicule. Fast forward to the present. Other results from this Gallup poll can be found here.

Morals 40

Morals 2015 Industry Protection 40

Animal Ethics

JULY 24, 2015

Forty years ago, the suggestion that nonhuman animals have moral rights—indeed, many of the same rights as human beings—would have been met with incredulous stares, if not outright ridicule. Fast forward to the present. Other results from this Gallup poll can be found here. Note from KBJ: This post is by Mylan Engel.

Animal Rights 40

Animal Rights Rights Animal Morals 40

Animal Ethics

JUNE 17, 2008

It would remain true, of course, that the vegetarian diet is more limited, since every pleasure available to the vegetarian is also available to the carnivore (not counting the moral satisfactions involved, of course—which would be question-begging), plus more which are not available to the vegetarian so long as he remains one.

Vegetarian 40

Vegetarian Morals Vegetarian Cooking Slaughter 40

Animal Ethics

SEPTEMBER 23, 2009

There are two approaches a vegetarian might take in arguing that rearing and killing animals for food is morally offensive. He might argue that eating animals is morally bad because of the pain inflicted on animals in rearing and killing them to be eaten. Nor could he object to the painless killing of wild animals.

Vegetarian 40

Vegetarian Meat Morals Cows 40

Animal Ethics

SEPTEMBER 7, 2009

I suspect that many regular readers of Animal Ethics are already vegetarians. That's because those who read Animal Ethics with regularity know that there are many compelling reasons to adopt a vegetarian lifestyle. One cannot produce eggs or dairy products on a large scale without the wholesale exploitation of animals.

Lacto-Ovo 40

Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian Vegan Veal 40

Animal Ethics

FEBRUARY 1, 2012

Farm animals are treated essentially as raw materials. Their ethological needs and direct interests are neglected to the extent that their needs are not as congruent with higher productivity and profit. Though factory-farming and biotechnological techniques massively violate the moral rights of farm animals, they have no remedy.

Farm Animal 40

Farm Animal Farmed Animals Farming Factory Farm 40

Animal Ethics

FEBRUARY 5, 2010

The predicament in such a non-moral case will concern only the individual and a few associates. When the ultimate values concerned are moral ones, on the other hand, and more particularly altruistic ones, the case is different; for the individual in such a dilemma has all society on his conscience. It need not.

2000 40

2000 Morals Vivisection Science 40

Animal Ethics

DECEMBER 7, 2008

This is a moral principle, and states that 'the interests of every being affected by an action are to be taken into account and given the same weight as the like interests of any other being'. According to Singer , the principle of the equal consideration of interests 'requires us to be vegetarians'.

Factory Farm 40

Factory Farm Factory Farming Factory Slaughter 40

Animal Ethics

FEBRUARY 27, 2012

I served on the Pew Commission on Industrial Farm Animal Production, which released a report in 2008 that detailed exactly how much these “efficiencies” are costing America. 20, 2012 To the Editor: Blake Hurst asserts that “production methods should not cause needless suffering,” but the position he takes does just that.

New York Times 40

New York Times New York Gestation Crates Gestation 40

Animal Ethics

AUGUST 5, 2007

To the Editor: “ A Factory Farm Near You ” (editorial, July 31) does not mention any issue of the morality of factory farming—treating living beings as factory products. Cruelty to animals on such a scale should be the centerpiece of any discussion on raising animals for food.

New York Times 40

New York Times Factory Farm Factory Farming New York 40

Animal Ethics

JANUARY 20, 2008

Ethical vegetarianism is the thesis that killing and eating animals is morally wrong whenever equally nutritious plant-based alternatives are available. The case for ethical vegetarianism starts with several uncontroversial premises. It is not just a few outspoken animal rights fanatics who hold this view.

Vegetarian 40

Vegetarian Meat Lacto-Ovo Ethics 40

Animal Ethics

SEPTEMBER 22, 2008

I have had no other animal products (no beef, pork, lamb, or turkey, for example) since 1982. That depends on whether there are morally relevant differences between chickens and fish on the one hand and cows, pigs, and sheep on the other. (I Surely that counts for something, morally. I, for example, am a demi-vegetarian.

Vegetarian 40

Vegetarian Morals Chickens Lamb 40

Animal Ethics

JANUARY 30, 2012

For example, the Treaty of Amsterdam that came into force on May 1, 1999, formally acknowledged that nonhuman animals are “sentient beings” and not merely goods or agricultural products. The European Community and the member states signatory to the treaty are required “to pay full regard to the welfare requirements of animals.”

Rights 40

Rights For Animals Legislation Laws 40

Animal Ethics

MARCH 14, 2007

Here is a New York Times op-ed column about pork production. Notice that the author is not opposed to the use of nonhuman animals as resources for human consumption. Are the lives of nonhuman animals less important, to them, than your life is to you? and their bodies dismembered and processed. I can't imagine what it is.

Factory Farm 40

Factory Farm Factory Farming Factory Farming 40

Animal Ethics

NOVEMBER 24, 2008

But this question of Butchery is not merely one of kindness or unkindness to animals, for by the very facts of the case it is a human question of no slight importance, affecting as it does the social and moral welfare of those more immediately concerned in it. Henry S.

Butcher 40

Butcher Vegetarian Morals Welfare 40

Animal Ethics

NOVEMBER 24, 2009

In fact, a whole lot of semi-vegans can do much more for animals than the tiny number of people who are willing to give up all animal products and scrupulously read labels. Farm animals also benefit from the humane farming movement, even if the animal welfare changes it effects are not all that we should hope and work for.

New York Times 40

New York Times New York Vegan Vegetarian 40

Animal Ethics

FEBRUARY 6, 2008

There is no doubt a good deal of truth in this last point as well, and we are here presented with a serious moral problem concerning the world food supply. Michael Fox , "'Animal Liberation': A Critique," Ethics 88 [January 1978]: 106-18, at 116-7) But even this fails to establish a case for vegetarianism.

Vegetarian 40

Vegetarian Fox Factory Farm Factory Farming 40

Animal Ethics

NOVEMBER 6, 2009

Beyond the environmental impacts of meat production there is a basic ethical issue involved. So here is an even more modest proposal than roasting Fido: Try eating only what animals you are willing to kill with your own hands. My interactions with farm animals have been as affectionate and fun as any I've had with dogs or cats.

Los Angeles 40

Los Angeles San Francisco Factory Farm Factory Farming 40

Animal Ethics

FEBRUARY 6, 2007

The dark secret behind factory farm profits—cruel and inhumane animal husbandry—is getting out. Factory farmers treat animals inhumanely for no good reason. Since morally decent individuals oppose treating animals inhumanely for no good reason, factory farming is becoming an increasingly hard sell.

Factory 40

Factory Factory Farm Factory Farming Gestation Crates 40

Animal Ethics

MARCH 21, 2007

March 14, 2007 To the Editor: Contrary to the assertions in Nicolette Hahn Niman’s attack on modern pork production, America’s 67,000 pork producers treat their animals humanely. They do so because it’s the moral and ethical thing to do, and it’s in their best economic interest. Catherine di Lorenzo Woodbine, Ga.,

New York Times 40

New York Times New York Pigs 2007 40

Animal Ethics

AUGUST 2, 2008

Kristof, who takes note of the trend represented by the animal welfare proposition on the ballot in California this fall. Kristof’s thoughtful exploration of animal rights, I was astonished to read that he continues to eat animals, like geese and pigs, for which he obviously has such affection and respect.

New York Times 40

New York Times New York Factory Farm Factory Farming 40

Animal Ethics

OCTOBER 6, 2009

But for more than 20 years, consumer groups led by Public Citizen have worked to scare the public about food irradiation and threatened to boycott companies that market irradiated products. Coli Shows Flaws in Ground Beef Inspection System ” (front page, Oct. 4): Your article about E.

New York Times 40

New York Times New York Hamburgers Meat Industry 40

Animal Ethics

MAY 23, 2007

It is not enough to simply cut animal products (or carbohydrates, or calories) out of one’s diet. It’s appalling that anyone would think that a diet based on a dubious morality would build a human infant. What these naysayers consistently neglect is that vegan diets, as with all other restricted diets, must be well planned.

New York Times 40

New York Times New York Vegan 2007 40

Animal Ethics

JUNE 4, 2009

For an explanation of this feature, click on “Moral Vegetarianism” at the bottom of this post. In fact, animals used for food do suffer a great deal. milk production. But is it true that by eating meat one is giving one’s tacit consent to the cruel treatment of animals? causing a decline in U.S.

Vegetarian 40

Vegetarian Morals Protest Protesting 40

Animal Ethics

JANUARY 2, 2008

What can I do to stop supporting unnecessary animal cruelty, and is it difficult to do so?Here Here are some surprisingly simple things you can do to stop supporting unnecessary animal cruelty: (a) Stop eating animals. (b) b) Stop eating animal products. (c)

Rights 40

Rights Animal Cruelty Vegan Cruelty 40

Animal Ethics

DECEMBER 31, 2006

What can I do to stop supporting unnecessary animal cruelty, and is it difficult to do so? Here are some surprisingly simple things you can do to stop supporting unnecessary animal cruelty: (a) Stop eating animals. (b) b) Stop eating animal products. (c)

2007 40

2007 Rights Animal Cruelty Cruelty 40

Animal Ethics

DECEMBER 15, 2006

As such, they are likely to be better moral reasoners , as well, both in their ability to identify moral reasons and in their ability to appreciate these reasons. Given their knowledge of nutrition already hinted at in Gale's reasoning above, they realize that no one needs to eat animals or animal products in order to be healthy.

Vegetarian 40

Vegetarian Factory Farm Factory Farming Morals 40

Animal Ethics

DECEMBER 23, 2006

Jonathan Hubbell, a philosophy major at the University of Texas at Arlington, is the newest member of the Animal Ethics blog, and once again, I would like to welcome him aboard. In his fresh and candid first post (available here ), Jonathan admitted that he is struggling with the issue of ethical vegetarianism.

Factory Farm 40

Factory Farm Factory Farming Morals Meat 40

Animal Ethics

DECEMBER 24, 2006

Each semester when I teach Contemporary Moral Issues, on the first day of class I begin with a survey. One of the questions on the survey is: "Is it morally permissible to kill animals for fur coats?" One immediate consequence of the prima facie wrongness of causing animals to suffer is that it is ultima facie wrong (i.e.,

Fur 40

Fur Fur Industry HSUS Raccoons 40