Animal Ethics

NOVEMBER 9, 2009

For an explanation of this feature, click on “Moral Vegetarianism” at the bottom of this post. The Argument from Brutalization The previous argument was based on an alleged indirect effect on human beings of not eating meat. People who do not eat meat for moral reasons tend to be less brutal than people who do eat meat.

Vegetarian 40

Vegetarian Morals Inhumane Meat 40

Animal Ethics

JUNE 17, 2008

It would remain true, of course, that the vegetarian diet is more limited, since every pleasure available to the vegetarian is also available to the carnivore (not counting the moral satisfactions involved, of course—which would be question-begging), plus more which are not available to the vegetarian so long as he remains one.

Vegetarian 40

Vegetarian Morals Vegetarian Cooking Slaughter 40

Animal Person

JUNE 8, 2009

I'm sure we could do a much better job of ensuring the humane treatment of our laboratory animals--but at this point it's very difficult even to start the discussion. It "guarantees humane treatment?" But there is a significant contingent who is not as enamored with the Laboratory Animal Welfare Act as he is.

Animal Welfare 100

Animal Welfare Monkeys Animal Welfare Act Vivisection 100

Animal Ethics

JULY 30, 2007

We had better therefore take the less complicated case of animals, which we commonly suppose not to be even potential moral agents. If we take the first view, we are implying that in order to have rights, just as much as in order to have duties, it is necessary to be a moral agent. It is not at all clear which is the true view.

Animal Rights 40

Animal Rights Rights Animal Morals 40

Animal Ethics

AUGUST 2, 2008

We pay lip service to more humane treatment of the animals that we eat, but how many of us look beyond the label on the package of chicken cutlets? Doesn’t he realize that he does not have to engage in this voluntary activity, which causes moral conflict for himself and suffering for the animals?

New York Times 40

New York Times New York Factory Farm Factory Farming 40

Animal Ethics

JUNE 4, 2009

For an explanation of this feature, click on “Moral Vegetarianism” at the bottom of this post. In any case, which various political strategies would be most efficient for achieving humane treatment of animals is an empirical question. The question arises: Why should such indirect causal influence have any moral import?

Vegetarian 40

Vegetarian Morals Protest Protesting 40