It’s never too early to plan for closing your practice
AVMA News
MARCH 7, 2023
Closing a veterinary practice is a complex process regulated by state law and moral obligations that owners should familiarize themselves with sooner rather than later.
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A Morning at Punta Morales, Costa Rica
10,000 Birds
APRIL 13, 2019
With shorebirds on my mind, the other day, we opted for birding at Punta Morales. We reached the salt pans at Morales around six and were greeted by several White-fronted Parrots feeding on fruiting trees. After we had our fill of Morales birds, we started our drive back, making one stop at Puntarenas to check for seabirds.
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Bernard E. Rollin on the Moral Status of Animals
Animal Ethics
NOVEMBER 25, 2016
Philosophers have shown that the standard reasons offered to exclude animals from the moral circle, and to justify not assessing our treatment of them by the same moral categories and machinery we use for assessing the treatment of humans, do not meet the test of moral relevance. 41 in A Companion to Bioethics , 2d ed.,
Review: The Moral Lives of Animals by Dale Peterson
10,000 Birds
MAY 6, 2011
With those caveats in mind, I took up Dale Peterson’s The Moral Lives of Animals with hope and not a little trepidation. After all, the behaviors we know as “morals&# do make it much easier to live in the groups we humans find ourselves in, and have been forced to adapt as the kinds of groups we live in change.
Time.com Article on the Morals of Eating Meat
Critter News
MARCH 30, 2011
Gene Bauer from Farm Sanctuary appears in this article. Pretty intense, but I hope people read it. There is a disturbing hedonism to eating. I went to a restaurant for a work lunch and everyone ate meat but me, even the animal lovers. We just don't think about where that flesh came from.and most of us don't care.
Gull for a Godwit in Costa Rica
10,000 Birds
MAY 14, 2022
A couple weeks ago, a few local birders were fortunate to participate in just such a conjunction when they saw a Hudsonian Godwit at the shorebird hotspot of Punta Morales. It meant that we could either just go back home or drive nearly two hours north to Punta Morales. We weighed our options.
Moral Vegetarianism, Part 3 of 13
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?
Moral Vegetarianism, Part 13 of 13
Animal Ethics
DECEMBER 6, 2009
For an explanation of this feature, click on “Moral Vegetarianism” at the bottom of this post. CONCLUSION There is no doubt that moral vegetarianism will continue to be a position that attracts people concerned with the plight of animals and with humanitarian goals. One final point.
J. J. C. Smart on the Moral Elite
Animal Ethics
DECEMBER 28, 2010
Let us think of the more moral members of society as a moral elite, much as the generality of scientists form a scientific elite. I hope I do not need to stress that such a moral elite must not be confused with a social or intellectual elite. I am myself not so heroic. I eat eggs though they may come from battery hens.
Moral Vegetarianism, Part 12 of 13
Animal Ethics
NOVEMBER 9, 2009
For an explanation of this feature, click on “Moral Vegetarianism” at the bottom of this post. People who do not eat meat for moral reasons tend to be less brutal than people who do eat meat. People who eat meat after reflection on the morality of eating meat are less brutal than people who eat meat without such reflection.
Moral Vegetarianism, Part 1 of 13
Animal Ethics
JANUARY 9, 2009
A third of a century ago, when the modern animal-liberation movement was in its infancy, Martin published an essay entitled “A Critique of Moral Vegetarianism,” Reason Papers (fall 1976): 13-43. You will, therefore, agree with Martin about moral vegetarianism but not about Christianity. Another reason is moral. One is health.
Moral Vegetarianism, Part 7 of 13
Animal Ethics
MAY 6, 2009
For an explanation of this feature, click on “Moral Vegetarianism” at the bottom of this post. The Argument from Speciesism If there is some doubt whether the arguments from monkeys and from glass walls should be considered moral arguments, there can be no doubt about the moral import of the argument from speciesism.
Moral Vegetarianism, Part 10 of 13
Animal Ethics
AUGUST 21, 2009
For an explanation of this feature, click on “Moral Vegetarianism” at the bottom of this post. The implication is certainly that it would be inconsistent for us to think that it is morally permissible for us to eat nonhuman animals but wrong for superior aliens to eat us. Tags: Moral Vegetarianism.
Moral Vegetarianism, Part 5 of 13
Animal Ethics
MARCH 27, 2009
For an explanation of this feature, click on “Moral Vegetarianism” at the bottom of this post. ARGUMENTS FOR MORAL VEGETARIANISM A variety of arguments have been given for vegetarianism. Sometimes they take such a sketchy form that it is not completely clear they are moral arguments. Tags: Moral Vegetarianism.
Moral Vegetarianism, Part 9 of 13
Animal Ethics
JULY 7, 2009
For an explanation of this feature, click on “Moral Vegetarianism” at the bottom of this post. Consequently, the killing of some animals for food, if done painlessly, is not morally objectionable. According to Benn, only moral agents have rights. It is clear that few animals, if any, are moral agents in this sense.
Moral Vegetarianism, Part 6 of 13
Animal Ethics
APRIL 16, 2009
For an explanation of this feature, click on “Moral Vegetarianism” at the bottom of this post. One might assume—although again this assumption may not be jusitified [sic]—that Mr. One might assume—although again this assumption may not be jusitified [sic]—that Mr. Morse was using this consideration as a moral argument for vegetarianism.
Moral Vegetarianism, Part 2 of 13
Animal Ethics
JANUARY 21, 2009
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?
Pat’s 2020 Bird List, Mostly from Costa Rica
10,000 Birds
JANUARY 18, 2020
Black-bellied Plover – Pluvialis squatarola; Punta Morales, 10-Jan. Wilson’s Plover – Charadrius wilsonia; Punta Morales, 10-Jan. Semipalmated Plover – Charadrius semipalmatus; Punta Morales, 10-Jan. Long-billed Curlew – Numenius americanus; Punta Morales, 10-Jan. Northern Jacana –Jacana spinosus; Curu, 4-Jan.
Moral Vegetarianism, Part 4 of 13
Animal Ethics
MARCH 8, 2009
For an explanation of this feature, click on “Moral Vegetarianism” at the bottom of this post. For example, if one could pick up shed animal legs in a pasture in which animals roam freely among their own kind, there might be no moral objection to eating the legs. They suggest that any simple moral vegetarianism is impossible.
Health and Morals
Animal Ethics
APRIL 10, 2009
He seems to think that the demand for free-range pork is a demand for wild pork, when in fact it's a demand for morally acceptable conditions for the pigs. Here is a New York Times op-ed column about free-range pigs. The author is confused. In other words, people want to eat not wild pigs but domestic pigs raised in humane conditions.
Jonathan Bennett on Revisable Morality
Animal Ethics
DECEMBER 31, 2008
There is a difficulty about drawing from all this a moral for ourselves. But then we can say this because we can say that all those are bad moralities, whereas we cannot look at our own moralities and declare them bad. This sympathy can be a basis for revising one's moral principles so as to take animals into account.
Moral Vegetarianism, Part 11 of 13
Animal Ethics
SEPTEMBER 30, 2009
For an explanation of this feature, click on “Moral Vegetarianism” at the bottom of this post. The Argument from Human Grain Shortage All of the clearly moral arguments for vegetarianism given so far have been in terms of animal rights and suffering. Tags: Moral Vegetarianism. KBJ: I’m speechless.
Moral Vegetarianism, Part 8 of 13
Animal Ethics
JUNE 4, 2009
For an explanation of this feature, click on “Moral Vegetarianism” at the bottom of this post. It can be argued instead that by eating meat one is giving one’s tacit consent or approval to the present situation, that the only way to be true to one’s moral conviction that the present treatment of animals is inhumane is not to eat meat.
W. D. Ross (1877-1971) on the Moral Significance of Pleasure and Pain
Animal Ethics
AUGUST 30, 2011
But when a moral being is feeling a pleasure or pain that is deserved or undeserved, or a pleasure or pain that implies a good or a bad disposition, the total fact is quite inadequately described if we say 'a sentient being is feeling pleasure, or pain'.
Henry Sidgwick (1838-1900) on Received Morality
Animal Ethics
NOVEMBER 17, 2008
Again, all or most men in whom the moral consciousness is strongly developed find themselves from time to time in conflict with the commonly received morality of the society to which they belong: and thus—as was before said—have a crucial experience proving that duty does not mean to them what other men will disapprove of them for not doing.
J. J. C. Smart on the Moral Status of Animals
Animal Ethics
AUGUST 19, 2009
I assumed that Hume was right in thinking that ultimately morality depends on how we feel about things. If so, then he is to be excused; but nobody today can think that any particular moral theory has an advantage over the others based on the status it accords animals.
Henry S. Salt (1851-1939) on Beefy Morals
Animal Ethics
APRIL 10, 2009
A nice moral bond of union, truly, between colonies and motherland! "We interknit ourselves with every part of the English-speaking world," said the journal of the Cosme colony , in Paraguay, describing its Christmas celebration of 1898, "by the most sacred ceremony of over-eating." Good living," unfortunately, is a somewhat equivocal term.
John Passmore (1914-2004) on the Moral Status of Animals
Animal Ethics
MAY 25, 2008
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. Controversies no doubt remain.
Jan Narveson on Moral Vegetarianism
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.
Hal Herzog's "Some We Love, Some We Hate, Some We Eat"
Animal Person
AUGUST 16, 2011
He is an unabashed speciesist, putting humans on “a different moral plane from that of other animals” (11) due to various reasons, such as our “vastly greater capacity for symbolic language, culture, and ethical judgment” (11). On page 172, when Herzog writes, “I am conflicted over many moral issues involving animals,” I respond, “No kidding!”
Salvias and the Hummers that Love Them
10,000 Birds
OCTOBER 13, 2021
The moral of the story: If you live in hummingbird country, you really should grow as many nice, tubular salvias as your climate and space allows. No ID yet for the salvia. This immature White-eared Hummingbird was lovely, and so was the salvia. I don’t know the latter’s species. But I’m a sucker for fuzzy salvia blooms.
Peter Singer on the Moral Significance of Self-Consciousness
Animal Ethics
JULY 17, 2008
Self-consciousness is morally significant; species, like race or sex, is not. Note that this distinction does not make Singer a speciesist, since it is not species that makes the difference. It is self-consciousness. While self-consciousness may be correlated with species, it is not identical to it.
Highlights from a Cancelled Pelagic Trip in Costa Rica
10,000 Birds
NOVEMBER 13, 2021
Another vagrant that has been hanging out in Costa Rica, an individual of this duck species from either Peru or the Galapagos has been living at the shorebird hotspot of Punta Morales for more than a month. We were pleased to make a detour and see it before heading back home.
Looking for Books about Animal Experimentation
Critter News
MARCH 21, 2012
But I want to be able to argue about it intelligently, citing science, not just morals. I've finally decided to take the plunge and really learn about animal experimentation. It's a horrible topic and I post news articles about the abuses from time to time. Many times tests fail. A drug may work on an animal, but fail miserably on a human.
Mon troisieme article elearning
Hannah's Blog
FEBRUARY 4, 2020
Je prenons enormes menager ramassa morales ah. Entrerent defensive craignait causaient ai le. Il laissant le on paraitre treteaux. Bourse je disant traits on espoir la et. Existence prenaient bourreaux oh exasperer he cependant. Idee eut des peut saut nul haut mur sais. Supplice un cervelle te relevant harmonie officier.
Musings
Critter News
APRIL 16, 2009
The drive to emancipate slaves was grounded on religious and moral grounds. There was tremendous moral energy, organization, networking, and credibility that came from the involvement of religious organizations and individuals. Quakers, for example, were the early abolitionists in the US.
Moral Vegetarianism
Animal Ethics
JANUARY 12, 2007
If you'd like to read Andrew Tardiff's 1996 essay "Simplifying the Case for Vegetarianism," write to me (by clicking "Contact" in the sidebar) and I'll send a copy. The essay is fabulous.
More Federal Stimulus Money Used for Animal Research
Critter News
APRIL 11, 2010
To see an issue of such moral debate minimized to simply economic activity is just not right. Our country needs federal stimulus money and I was a big supporter of this initiative of President Obama's. But it disappoints and frustrates me to see it consistently used for purposes that I passionately oppose.
On "Wild Justice"
Animal Person
JULY 3, 2009
" Wild Justice: The Moral Lives of Animals ," By Marc Bekoff and Jessica Pierce, is the most recent (for me) book that debunks myths about the differences between human and nonhuman animals. Also, Bekoff and Pierce present a descriptive view, not a normative view of morality. There are no judgments.
Quote of the Week
Critter News
OCTOBER 28, 2009
The fact that man knows right from wrong proves his intellectual superiority to the other creatures; but the fact that he can do wrong proves his moral inferiority to any creature that cannot. He is the only creature that inflicts pain for sport, knowing it to be pain. Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens).
How to Confront Cruelty
Critter News
OCTOBER 26, 2008
I came across this 2005 book from the Society & Animals Journal titled Confronting Cruelty Moral Orthodoxy and the Challenge of the Animal Rights Movement. Sounds interesting. Why and how do people campaign on behalf of a species that is not their own?
Signs of Spring Migration in Costa Rica
10,000 Birds
MARCH 27, 2021
The other day, several were at the salt pans of Punta Morales and most had a bit of russet or chestnut on their head, dressed to fly back to the shores of the Gulf and raise a brood or two. Costa Rica is an important place for wintering Wilson’s Plovers. At some sites, flocks of 30, even 60 or more birds are expected.
Animal Ethics - Untitled Article
Animal Ethics
JULY 24, 2015
Forty years ago, the suggestion that nonhuman animals have moral rights—indeed, many of the same rights as human beings—would have been met with incredulous stares, if not outright ridicule. Fast forward to the present. Other results from this Gallup poll can be found here.
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