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H. B. Acton (1908-1974) on Animal Rights

Animal Ethics

When it is asked whether animals have rights, and whether human beings have duties to them, the question, I think, is partly moral and partly verbal. Persons are beings with rights and duties, whereas no one supposes that animals have duties. If we say they have, we class them with beings the rest of whom are capable of duties.

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Vegetarianism and IQ

Animal Ethics

The study also found that: "IQ remained a statistically significant predictor of being vegetarian as an adult after adjustment for social class (both in childhood and currently), academic or vocational qualifications, and sex." Given that belief, they no doubt also believe that it is wrong to knowingly contribute to unnecessary suffering.

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Prima Facie vs. Ultima Facie Wrongness

Animal Ethics

Rest assured that if you are purchasing meat from your favorite fast food restaurant, your favorite sit-down chain restaurant, or your local grocery store, you are purchasing the flesh of a tortured animal. That's one more reason to forego the Christmas Turkey or Ham this year.