Animal Ethics

OCTOBER 8, 2008

For, at least as both are usually construed, the only major difference between ethical egoism and act-utilitarianism is that the egoist is concerned with maximizing utility in his own case, so that only consequences which affect him bear upon the rightness and wrongness of his acts.

Bears 40

Bears Ethics Animal Rights 40

10,000 Birds

MAY 3, 2016

Am I willing to give up the field guide which bears the mud and dirt of so many falls on so many birding trips? A guide that feels so right in my hands? “Ethics” includes a lengthy discussion on playback. It’s a question many of us are grappling with.

North America 152

North America 2003 Birds America 152

Animal Ethics

MAY 25, 2008

"The Puritan," Macaulay once wrote with condemnatory intent, "hated bear-baiting , not because it gave pain to the bear, but because it gave pleasure to the spectators." John Passmore , "The Treatment of Animals," Journal of the History of Ideas 36 [April-June 1975]: 195-218, at 195 [italics in original; footnotes omitted])

Morals 40

Morals 2004 Animal Suffering Vivisection 40

Animal Ethics

DECEMBER 7, 2008

By forgoing meat in our diets, we can reduce, if not eliminate, this massive suffering of animals, merely through bringing market forces to bear upon factory farming.

Factory Farm 40

Factory Farm Factory Farming Factory Slaughter 40

Animal Ethics

JUNE 17, 2008

Once one bears in mind that it is this comparative assessment that is required, then it seems to me there will be a strong case (1) for Humane Slaughter, and humane treatment prior to slaughter, and (2) insofar as really painless and comfortable animal-raising is not attained or attainable, giving vegetarianism a try, at least.

Vegetarian 40

Vegetarian Morals Vegetarian Cooking Slaughter 40

Animal Ethics

JANUARY 20, 2007

The sleight of hand that gave us the “selfish” gene gives us the rights of baboons. But this means that the apes appeal to animal-rights activists for precisely the wrong reason—namely, that they look like people and behave like people, while making no moral demands. And that explains, in part, the appeal of the animal-rights movement.

Animal 40

Animal Morals Apes Emotional 40

Animal Ethics

FEBRUARY 15, 2009

KBJ: Nobody in the animal-rights or animal-liberation movement views intelligence as a morally significant property, at least intrinsically. This, however, is not our world, so I don’t understand the bearing of the question. What should our moral attitude be toward eating members of these species? KBJ: Ditto.

Morals 40

Morals Vegetarian Meat Killing 40

Animal Ethics

JANUARY 21, 2008

Of course, the critics could be wrong, but if so, the responsibility for setting them right rests with one man: Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne. Indeed, the fate of the polar bear, whose Arctic habitat is literally melting away, may depend on them. Critics in and out of Congress have been quick to question the motives for the delay.

New York Times 40

New York Times Polar Bears New York Endangered Species 40

Animal Ethics

DECEMBER 24, 2006

But when HSUS purchased several of these jackets, the jackets arrived bearing the labels "Made in China" and "genuine raccoon fur." The treatment of the dogs can't really be as bad as I have described, right? According to the press release, Macy's website went so far as to "identify" the materials used as "Nylon/faux fur/goose down."

Fur 40

Fur Fur Industry HSUS Raccoons 40