Animal Ethics

OCTOBER 30, 2007

To the Editor: Re “ Two Pigs ” (The Rural Life, Oct. 25): Thank you for another thoughtful piece by Verlyn Klinkenborg, who admirably makes the point that taking an animal’s life should not be a cavalier endeavor. There is no moral difference between eating a dog or a pig, a cat or a chicken. Borders Jr. Louisville, Ky.,

New York Times 40

New York Times New York Louisville Pigs 40

Animal Ethics

NOVEMBER 6, 2009

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. A decision not to eat dogs has nothing to do with our inherent hypocrisy, but with our relationship to different animals. Dogs were bred to be companion animals; pigs and cows are raised as food.

Los Angeles 40

Los Angeles San Francisco Factory Farm Factory Farming 40

Animal Ethics

MARCH 21, 2007

To the Editor: I appreciate Nicolette Hahn Niman’s efforts in raising awareness about the conditions in which pigs are raised (“ Pig Out ,” Op-Ed, March 14), but I was struck by her comment that it is incumbent on us to ensure that animals have decent lives because we ask them to make the ultimate sacrifice for us.

New York Times 40

New York Times New York Pigs 2007 40

Animal Ethics

FEBRUARY 6, 2007

A column entitled "Ag Industry Threatened by Animal Rights" appeared in today's High Plains/Midwest Ag Journal [ HPMAJ ]. The column, which you can read here , is a call to arms to factory farmers to fight back against those individuals and organizations working to protect farm animals from the abuses inherent in factory farms.

Factory 40

Factory Factory Farm Factory Farming Gestation Crates 40

Animal Ethics

JANUARY 26, 2007

It might be argued that any decrease in suffering for farmed animals is good, morally speaking. But does giving pigs more room change the way they are viewed? Someone might argue that there is no incompatibility between (1) working to decrease animal suffering and (2) working toward the abolition of factory farming.

Factory Farm 40

Factory Farm Factory Farming Animal Suffering Farm Animal 40

Animal Ethics

DECEMBER 14, 2009

I foresee a day, perhaps not far in the future, in which it is illegal to raise cows, pigs, and other animals for food. The ground for this will not be animal welfare, as you might expect, but environmentalism. The natural environment, unlike individual animals, is inanimate, unconscious, and insentient.

Meat 40

Meat Animal Welfare Vegetarian Protecting Animals 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

AUGUST 2, 2008

Kristof, who takes note of the trend represented by the animal welfare proposition on the ballot in California this fall. It’s time that our tax dollars no longer finance the inhumane conditions—for workers and animals and the climate—of factory farms. We know that animals suffer as well. To the Editor: Nicholas D.

New York Times 40

New York Times New York Factory Farm Factory Farming 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. First, it may be argued that only animals who can feel pain are not to be eaten. What should our moral attitude be toward eating members of these species?

Morals 40

Morals Vegetarian Meat Killing 40

Animal Person

OCTOBER 26, 2009

I immensely enjoyed "EVERYTHING IS ILLUMINATED" (even on the big screen) and eagerly anticipated "EATING ANIMALS" by Jonathan Safran Foer. Finally, if you know someone who gravitates toward the philosophical issues around our use of animals, this is a good book. Ever, in fact. Not great, but good. Imagine being served a plate of sushi.

Factory Farm 100

Factory Farm Factory Farming Animal Vegan 100

Animal Ethics

JULY 17, 2008

Peter Singer , "Killing Humans and Killing Animals," Inquiry 22 [summer 1979]: 145-56, at 152 [endnote omitted]) Note from KBJ: Singer is making a distinction within the class of sentient beings. Suppose pigs are non-self-conscious. Then painlessly killing a pig while replacing it with another, equally happy pig is not wrong.

Morals 40

Morals Pigs Killing Humane 40