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Moral Vegetarianism, Part 9 of 13

Animal Ethics

So, even if animals are killed painlessly and raised for food in humane ways, it is wrong to kill them. It is also probable that very subnormal adult human beings do not. Presumably most animals—even infants—would have the right not to suffer. In particular, it has been argued that animals have a right to life.

Morals 40
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Prima Facie vs. Ultima Facie Wrongness

Animal Ethics

He clearly thinks that it is wrong to cause animals to suffer unnecessarily, but he appears to be somewhat ambivalent about killing animals (provided the killing is carried out humanely). I suspect that underlying his thinking here is a common rationalization that many of my students initially embrace.