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Moral Vegetarianism, Part 4 of 13

Animal Ethics

For an explanation of this feature, click on “Moral Vegetarianism” at the bottom of this post. These people abstain from eggs and dairy products the production of which involves suffering for the animals. To avoid this complication, Martin should have stipulated that no suffering is involved in the production of animal legs.

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Moral Vegetarianism, Part 2 of 13

Animal Ethics

For an explanation of this feature, click on “Moral Vegetarianism” at the bottom of this post. SOME PROBLEMS OF MORAL VEGETARIANISM With respect to traditional moral vegetarianism some problems immediately come to the fore. What animals is it morally wrong to eat? But what is the extent of the universal moral principle?

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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.

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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. As a consequence, “people should treat all creatures decently, and protect them from cruelty, avoidable suffering, and unnecessary killing.”

Wildlife 232
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Plant Rights

Animal Ethics

If Smith thinks that plant rights and animal rights stand or fall together, then he is confused, for there is a morally relevant difference between plants and animals, namely, that only the latter are sentient. Animal rights ideology holds that moral worth comes with sentience or the ability to suffer.

Rights 40
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H. B. Acton (1908-1974) on Animal Rights

Animal Ethics

When it is asked whether animals have rights, and whether human beings have duties to them, the question, I think, is partly moral and partly verbal. Let us consider the moral question first. Similar considerations, I suggest, apply when we ask whether it is proper to say that animals have moral rights.

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Are You Wearing Man's Best Friend? That Trim on the Hood of Your Jacket Might Be Dog Fur!

Animal Ethics

According to the AP story, nine of ten jackets tested by HSUS were found to have trim made of dog fur, but were mislabeled in violation of federal law. Each semester when I teach Contemporary Moral Issues, on the first day of class I begin with a survey. all-things-considered wrong ) to cause an animal to suffer for no good reason.

Fur 40