Animal Ethics

OCTOBER 30, 2007

To the Editor: Re “ Two Pigs ” (The Rural Life, Oct. There is no moral difference between eating a dog or a pig, a cat or a chicken. For the same reason that most of us would not eat our pets, we should also not eat chickens, pigs or other animals. Borders Jr. Louisville, Ky.,

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Animal Ethics

MARCH 21, 2007

To the Editor: I appreciate Nicolette Hahn Niman’s efforts in raising awareness about the conditions in which pigs are raised (“ Pig Out ,” Op-Ed, March 14), but I was struck by her comment that it is incumbent on us to ensure that animals have decent lives because we ask them to make the ultimate sacrifice for us. Jill Appell Pres.,

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Animal Ethics

NOVEMBER 6, 2009

Dogs were bred to be companion animals; pigs and cows are raised as food. Why was a dog more worthy of not being dinner than a pig? In the name of moral consistency I became a vegetarian four years ago. Foer misses the point of the debate completely. However, I agree with Mr. Foer that factory farming has to go.

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Animal Ethics

JANUARY 26, 2007

It might be argued that any decrease in suffering for farmed animals is good, morally speaking. But does giving pigs more room change the way they are viewed? What do you think of this ? Indeed, doesn't it entrench the idea that they are resources for human use?

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Animal Ethics

SEPTEMBER 22, 2008

That depends on whether there are morally relevant differences between chickens and fish on the one hand and cows, pigs, and sheep on the other. (I Surely that counts for something, morally. Does that mean he was not expressing profound moral truths? Human beings are, and always will be, imperfect, morally and otherwise.

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Animal Ethics

DECEMBER 14, 2009

I foresee a day, perhaps not far in the future, in which it is illegal to raise cows, pigs, and other animals for food. Of all the ways of influencing behavior, rational persuasion is the most effective, the most secure (in the sense of long-lasting), and the most defensible from a moral point of view.

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Animal Ethics

FEBRUARY 6, 2007

Consider some of the victories: On November 5th, 2002, more than two and a half million Floridians voted "Yes" on Amendment 10 to amend the state constitution and prohibit the use of gestation crates , narrow metal cages where breeding pigs are kept for most of their lives. The full text of the amendment is available here.

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Animal Ethics

AUGUST 2, 2008

Kristof’s thoughtful exploration of animal rights, I was astonished to read that he continues to eat animals, like geese and pigs, for which he obviously has such affection and respect. 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?

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Animal Ethics

FEBRUARY 15, 2009

For an explanation of this feature, click on “Moral Vegetarianism” at the bottom of this post. Most moral vegetarians list fish and fowl as animals one should not eat. The ability to feel pain is not an obviously plausible way of morally distinguishing microorganisms from other organisms. What Meat Should Not Be Eaten?

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Animal Ethics

JULY 17, 2008

Suppose pigs are non-self-conscious. Then painlessly killing a pig while replacing it with another, equally happy pig is not wrong. Self-consciousness is morally significant; species, like race or sex, is not. Those that are self-conscious are not replaceable, whereas those that are non-self-conscious are replaceable.

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Animal Person

OCTOBER 26, 2009

There's not enough evidence for an accusation of moral relativism, but for me the message is a mixed one. In the end, they can still have their dogs and eat their pigs, without feeling that they are doing anything wrong by favoring one species over another, or taking someone's life when they don't need to.

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