Animal Rights
Jeremy Bentham was the first philosopher to focus on the need for equal treatment
of animals. The issue was primarily about the suffering humans imposed on animals.
“The question is not, can they reason? Nor can they talk? But can they suffer?”
The five areas of debate around animal rights:
1. Food
a. Gives us nutrients vegetables can’t-Singer argues high protein vegetables
can give us the nutrients we require.
b. Suffering is endured through confined spaces.
c. Emphasis on profit rather than welfare.
d. Singer- Farming animals for food is wasteful of worlds resources.
e. Plant based diet could help environmental crisis and world poverty
according to Singer.
2. Medical experiments
a. HIV treatments have been found through this method
b. If scientist isn’t ready to experiment on an infant, then his readiness to
use animals is simple “discrimination” according to Singer.
c. Thalidomide- was successful on animals’ disastrous effects for humans.
d. Alternative computer-based approaches.
e. Death of a human is worse than an animal is an argument used to justify.
f. It was believed animals couldn’t feel pain at the beginning of animal
testing.
3. Cosmetic testing
a. Can cause severe side effects to animals such as blinding scarring and
more.
b. Alternative methods are now used, and it is clearly indicated that they are
animal cruelty free.
4. Fur
a. Vardy & Grosch - “there is a range of alternative textiles…slaughter is
unnecessary.”
5. Sport
a. Farmers claim foxhunting is useful to control the population which kill
their stock
b. Traditions and form of entertainment.
c. Foxhunting is illegal in Wales and Scotland but legal in NI.
There are 3 approaches to the issues:
1. Rights for animals
i. All living things have intrinsic value and deserve to be protected
ii. Not giving moral status to animals is “speciesism”
iii. Singer believes animals interests must be taken into consideration as
they are sentient beings.
Jeremy Bentham was the first philosopher to focus on the need for equal treatment
of animals. The issue was primarily about the suffering humans imposed on animals.
“The question is not, can they reason? Nor can they talk? But can they suffer?”
The five areas of debate around animal rights:
1. Food
a. Gives us nutrients vegetables can’t-Singer argues high protein vegetables
can give us the nutrients we require.
b. Suffering is endured through confined spaces.
c. Emphasis on profit rather than welfare.
d. Singer- Farming animals for food is wasteful of worlds resources.
e. Plant based diet could help environmental crisis and world poverty
according to Singer.
2. Medical experiments
a. HIV treatments have been found through this method
b. If scientist isn’t ready to experiment on an infant, then his readiness to
use animals is simple “discrimination” according to Singer.
c. Thalidomide- was successful on animals’ disastrous effects for humans.
d. Alternative computer-based approaches.
e. Death of a human is worse than an animal is an argument used to justify.
f. It was believed animals couldn’t feel pain at the beginning of animal
testing.
3. Cosmetic testing
a. Can cause severe side effects to animals such as blinding scarring and
more.
b. Alternative methods are now used, and it is clearly indicated that they are
animal cruelty free.
4. Fur
a. Vardy & Grosch - “there is a range of alternative textiles…slaughter is
unnecessary.”
5. Sport
a. Farmers claim foxhunting is useful to control the population which kill
their stock
b. Traditions and form of entertainment.
c. Foxhunting is illegal in Wales and Scotland but legal in NI.
There are 3 approaches to the issues:
1. Rights for animals
i. All living things have intrinsic value and deserve to be protected
ii. Not giving moral status to animals is “speciesism”
iii. Singer believes animals interests must be taken into consideration as
they are sentient beings.
