Animal Ethics

MARCH 11, 2007

Horses slaughtered in America today go not to feed the poor and the hungry but to satisfy the esoteric palates of wealthy diners in Europe and Japan. The issue is not whether slaughtering horses is un-American, but that it is inhumane and wholly unnecessary. Yes, all food animals should meet a dignified end.

New York Times 40

New York Times New York Horse Slaughter Horses 40

Animal Ethics

DECEMBER 24, 2007

14): To the animals being slaughtered, it does not matter whether their killers are local or whether they will be eaten or displayed on a wall. Their suffering is the same. To the Editor: Re “ Locavore, Get Your Gun ,” by Steven Rinella (Op-Ed, Dec.

New York Times 40

New York Times New York Compassion Slaughter 40

Animal Ethics

FEBRUARY 3, 2009

Meat, however, purchased at the supermarket, externally packaged and internally laced with petrochemicals, fattened in feed lots, slaughtered impersonally, and, in general, mechanically processed from artificial insemination to microwave roaster, is an affront not only to physical metabolism and bodily health but to conscience as well.

Factory Farm 40

Factory Farm Factory Farming Factory Farming 40

Animal Ethics

JUNE 3, 2008

The argument for vegetarianism is not based on any claim about the wrongness of killing animals—although some careless reviewers read this claim into my book, no doubt because they assumed that any moral argument for vegetarianism must be based on the wrongness of killing.

Killing 40

Killing Animal Liberation Vegetarian Animal 40

Animal Ethics

NOVEMBER 7, 2008

If our liking for meat is in fact more intense than our revulsion at the suffering endured on factory farms, then we are going to remain meat-eaters, with the result that, if the vegetarian has grounded his case in an appeal to our feelings, then that case is in jeopardy.

Factory Farm 40

Factory Farm Factory Farming Vegetarian Meat 40

Animal Ethics

JANUARY 20, 2008

The case for ethical vegetarianism starts with several uncontroversial premises. Virtually everyone agrees that: (1) It is wrong to cause a conscious sentient animal to suffer for no good reason. Most people hold that it is wrong to cause animals unnecessary suffering. Carruthers, The Animals Issue , p.

Vegetarian 40

Vegetarian Meat Ethics Lacto-Ovo 40

Animal Ethics

SEPTEMBER 23, 2009

A vegetarian of the first sort has no grounds for objecting to the eating of animals—molluscs for example—too rudimentary in their development to feel pain. Nor could he object to meat-eating if the slaughter were completely painless and the raising of animals at least as comfortable as life in the wild.

Vegetarian 40

Vegetarian Meat Morals Cows 40

Animal Ethics

AUGUST 2, 2008

The fact that geese mate for life, and that the mate of the poor goose that was slaughtered would step forward, was enough to make me swear off meat forever, if I hadn’t already. Doesn’t he realize that he does not have to engage in this voluntary activity, which causes moral conflict for himself and suffering for the animals?

New York Times 40

New York Times New York Factory Farm Factory Farming 40

Animal Ethics

FEBRUARY 6, 2007

To learn more about Arizona's precedent-setting victory for farm animals, see here. September 7, 2006, a bill banning the slaughter of horses for human consumption( H.R. The reason that the industry is losing the argument is quite simple: There is no ethical justification for causing an animal to suffer unnecessarily.

Factory 40

Factory Factory Farm Factory Farming Gestation Crates 40

Animal Ethics

NOVEMBER 24, 2009

We are animals ourselves—and are no more (or less) than the animals we consume, or than the predators that would otherwise consume them. If we are not justified in eating mackerel ourselves, are we not also morally obligated to stop the slaughter brought on by the tuna? David Peters New York, Nov. Lisa Dinhofer Frederick, Md.,

New York Times 40

New York Times New York Vegan Vegetarian 40

Animal Ethics

NOVEMBER 3, 2009

Can anyone in good conscience be complicit with the unnecessary suffering and slaughter of another sentient being? To the Editor: When Nicolette Hahn Niman refers to “a conscientious meat eater,” she is using an oxymoron. Kellman San Antonio, Oct.

New York Times 40

New York Times New York Meat San Antonio 40

Animal Ethics

SEPTEMBER 30, 2009

The Argument from Human Grain Shortage All of the clearly moral arguments for vegetarianism given so far have been in terms of animal rights and suffering. Nobody wants existing animals to be slaughtered. For an explanation of this feature, click on “Moral Vegetarianism” at the bottom of this post.

Vegetarian 40

Vegetarian Morals Meat Cattle 40

Animal Ethics

DECEMBER 31, 2008

Many people exclude animals from moral consideration, even though they would never think to neglect, much less harm, a dog or a cat. It is natural to feel sympathy for animals who are suffering. This sympathy can be a basis for revising one's moral principles so as to take animals into account. This is bad faith.

Morals 40

Morals Factory Farm Factory Farming Neglecting 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. I suspect that underlying his thinking here is a common rationalization that many of my students initially embrace.

Factory Farm 40

Factory Farm Factory Farming Morals Meat 40