article thumbnail

John Passmore (1914-2004) on the Moral Status of Animals

Animal Ethics

One restriction on the absolutism of man's rule over Nature is now generally accepted: moral philosophers and public opinion agree that it is morally impermissible to be cruel to animals. That, on the whole, is the Christian tradition. Controversies no doubt remain.

Morals 40
article thumbnail

Michael Fox on Vegetarianism

Animal Ethics

Even if, contrary to fact, none of this feed grain could be used to nourish humans elsewhere in the world, at least the land which yields the grain could be sown with high-protein-yielding crops, such as soybeans, according to Singer. Michael Fox , "'Animal Liberation': A Critique," Ethics 88 [January 1978]: 106-18, at 116-7)

Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Trending Sources

article thumbnail

The Emotional Lives of Animals

4 The Love Of Animals

Dogs are able to detect diseases such as cancer and diabetes and warn humans of impending heart attacks and strokes. In many ways, human emotions are the gifts of our animal ancestors. Grief in magpies and red foxes: Saying goodbye to a friend. I also watched a red fox bury her mate after a cougar had killed him.

Emotional 100
article thumbnail

The North American Model of Wildlife Conservation and Who Pays for It

10,000 Birds

A new willingness among scientists to consider certain moral and ethical implications with respect to wild animals, where previously utilitarian ideas prevailed, including ideas of intrinsic value. The use of wildlife for subsistence purposes by human populations should not be equated with their commercial consumptive use.

Wildlife 238
article thumbnail

Tom Regan on the Animal-Rights Movement

Animal Ethics

Moral philosophy is no substitute for political action. It is simply projustice, insisting only that the scope of justice be seen to include respect for the rights of animals. How we change the dominant misconception of animals—indeed, whether we change it—is to a large extent a political question. Still, it can make a contribution.

article thumbnail

Peter Singer on Animal Rights

Animal Ethics

My basic moral position (as my emphasis on pleasure and pain and my quoting Bentham might have led Fox to suspect) is utilitarian. Peter Singer, " The Fable of the Fox and the Unliberated Animals ," Ethics 88 [January 1978]: 119-25, at 122) I have little to say about rights because rights are not important to my argument.

article thumbnail

John Passmore (1914-2004) on the History of Animal Cruelty

Animal Ethics

Moral philosophers began to regard it as an obvious truth that it is wrong to treat animals cruelly. It should be observed, however, that if our analysis of the situation is correct, then this change in moral attitude resulted in a restriction of rights rather than an extension of them.