Animal Ethics

AUGUST 1, 2008

Some indication of the genuinely biocentric value orientation of ethical environmentalism is indicated in what otherwise might appear to be gratuitous misanthropy. The biospheric perspective does not exempt Homo sapiens from moral evaluation in relation to the well-being of the community of nature taken as a whole.

Animal Liberation 40

Animal Liberation Morals Ethics Deer 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

DECEMBER 31, 2011

I’m tired of hearing people who enjoy killing justify it with specious moral platitudes. Animals suffer when killed. It is only the prejudice of our species that justifies culling the deer population while protecting our own. He says meat tastes more precious when you’ve watched it die. MARIE BROWN Baldwin, N.Y.,

New York Times 40

New York Times New York Mountain Lions Deer 40

Animal Ethics

JANUARY 30, 2012

Properly interpreted, the common law is meant to be flexible, adaptable to changes in public morality, and sensitive to new scientific discoveries. An animal’s species is irrelevant to his or her entitlement to liberty rights; any who possesses practical autonomy has what is sufficient for basic rights as a matter of liberty.

Rights 40

Rights For Animals Legislation Laws 40

Animal Ethics

AUGUST 27, 2008

Thus Socrates turned his back on the great speculations about the nature of the universe and focused his whole attention on "the good for man" Twenty centuries later men lament that they pursue loneliness, and that their morals and politics lag dangerously behind their natural science. True Irrationality.

Dolphins 40

Dolphins Non Human Humane Morals 40

Animal Ethics

FEBRUARY 15, 2009

For an explanation of this feature, click on “Moral Vegetarianism” at the bottom of this post. Most moral vegetarians list fish and fowl as animals one should not eat. The ability to feel pain is not an obviously plausible way of morally distinguishing microorganisms from other organisms. What Meat Should Not Be Eaten?

Morals 40

Morals Vegetarian Meat Killing 40

Animal Ethics

MAY 6, 2009

For an explanation of this feature, click on “Moral Vegetarianism” at the bottom of this post. The Argument from Speciesism If there is some doubt whether the arguments from monkeys and from glass walls should be considered moral arguments, there can be no doubt about the moral import of the argument from speciesism.

Morals 40

Morals Vegetarian Speciesism Killing 40

Animal Ethics

JULY 17, 2008

Note that this distinction does not make Singer a speciesist, since it is not species that makes the difference. While self-consciousness may be correlated with species, it is not identical to it. Self-consciousness is morally significant; species, like race or sex, is not. It is self-consciousness.

Morals 40

Morals Pigs Killing Humane 40

Animal Ethics

DECEMBER 24, 2006

They belong to the canine species Nyctereutes procyonoides. 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?" But is it really? Not according to my students.

Fur 40

Fur Fur Industry HSUS Raccoons 40