Animal Ethics

SEPTEMBER 30, 2009

For an explanation of this feature, click on “Moral Vegetarianism” at the bottom of this post. 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.

Vegetarian 40

Vegetarian Morals Meat Cattle 40

Animal Ethics

MAY 23, 2007

Ross Smith New York, May 21, 2007 To the Editor: I am shocked by the ignorance of the recent outcry against vegan diets in the media, most recently Nina Planck’s article about the dangers and irresponsibility of vegan diets during pregnancy and infancy. A diet that may be adequate for an adult is not always good for a baby or a child.

New York Times 40

New York Times New York Vegan 2007 40

Animal Ethics

SEPTEMBER 8, 2009

Here is a New York Times blog post about wolf hunting. This passage puzzles me: Unsurprisingly, I believe it is wrong to inflict pain and death unnecessarily on a creature capable of suffering. Peter Singer more broadly examines the moral standing of animals here.) Is meat-eating necessary?

Vegetarian 40

Vegetarian New York Times Pigs Morals 40

Animal Ethics

MARCH 11, 2007

Animals as well as humans can suffer pain, deprivation, and unwanted death. An exception for vegetables is thus consistent with the categorical imperative; an exception for humans with respect to eating animals is not. Vegetables cannot. Hence there is a very fundamental and relevant sense in which we cannot harm a vegetable.

Unwanted 40

Unwanted Animal 2005 Morals 40

Animal Ethics

DECEMBER 4, 2006

Here is a New York Times editorial opinion about organic fish. The Times argues that the concept of organic food does not apply to wild animals. Note that this debate is independent of the debate about the moral permissibility of eating fish. It is designed to distinguish between two types of farming.

Morals 40

Morals New York Times Raised New York 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. She simply wants to minimize their suffering before they are killed (painlessly?) 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

JUNE 17, 2011

A great number of animals owe their lives to our intention to eat them. If we value animal life and animal comfort, therefore, we should endorse our carnivorous habits, provided it really is life , and not living death, on which those habits feed. Duty requires us, therefore, to eat our friends.

Meat 40

Meat Vegetarian Battery Fast Food 40

Animal Person

DECEMBER 14, 2009

In this morning's New York Times editorial " There Is No 'Humane' Execution ," we have an imperfect yet nevertheless baby step toward acknowledgment of the HumaneMyth. We went from an abolitionist angle--that executing people is morally wrong--to the death penalty needs to be repealed to eliminate problems during the execution.

Humane 100

Humane District of Columbia Cows Morals 100