Arguments on Animal Use: Essay

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Added on 2019-10-18

Arguments on Animal Use: Essay

Added on 2019-10-18

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Delineate and EvaluateSinger’s Arguments onAnimal UseEssayStudent[Pick the date]

AbstractPeter Singer has long been considered as one of the pioneers in the scope of the modern animalliberation movement. In his book "Animal Liberation"1, he follows Jeremy Bentham, a utilitarianphilosopher’s viewpoints like the arguments that the fundamental interest in not suffering2 todevelop his own arguments to support his claims that the circle of moral interest should beexpanded to non-humans and all animals are equal. He describes his views on animals asfollows: “I have never really been fond of animals. I certainly wasn’t an ‘animal lover” when Ibecame involved in the movement. I just came to be persuaded that animals should be treated asindependent sentient beings, not as means to human ends.”3In this essay, a delineation ofSingers’ arguments has been provided on animal use: (1) Expanding the circle of moralconsideration, (2) The Principal of Equal consideration of interest and (3) Having the capabilitiesof suffering is the prerequisite of receiving equal considerations. Then, the Singer’s attitudetowards animal use has been delineated. In the final part, the Singers’ arguments on animal usehave been evaluated which shows that most of Singer’s arguments in backing his stance inanimal use are well elaborated though there are still some areas that remain unclear. 1 Animal Liberation: A New Ethics of Our Treatment of Animals (HarperCollins, 1975) Peter Singer In the book, Singer’s main argument is that non-humans should be given the interest of equal consideration since they are also capable of suffering just as human do. 2 Jeremy Bentham introduce the idea that the fundamental interest in not suffering by saying “The question is not, Can they reason? Nor, Can they talk? But, Can they suffer?” Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation, 2nd ed. (London Pickering, 1823) Jeremy Bentham Chapter 173 Article: Peter Singer: Some people are more equal than others (The Independent News, July 1 2004) Johann Hari

ContentsIntroduction.......................................................................................................................................................31) Singers’ argument on animal use...................................................................................................................31.1) Speciesism is analogous to racism and sexism.........................................................................................31.2) Singer’s utilitarianism approach..............................................................................................................41.3) The criterion that gives a being an equal consideration..........................................................................51.4) Singer’s attitude towards animal use.......................................................................................................52) Evaluation of Singer’s arguments on animal use............................................................................................82.1) The potential of Singer’s arguments on animal use.................................................................................82.2) Criticism of Singer’s arguments on animal use........................................................................................92.2.1) Inadequacy in protecting the rights of animals.................................................................................92.2.2) The social-bondedness view...........................................................................................................102.2.3) The problems arisen from Singer’s utilitarian approach.................................................................113) Conclusion...................................................................................................................................................12

IntroductionPeter Singer is the well-known philosopher who pioneered the animal welfare movement. In hisarticle, "All animals are equal," he has emphasized the importance of the rights of the animals.The concept of speciesism has been emphasized here which is an attitude or a prejudice of biastowards the interests of the members of particular species members and against those who belongto the other species. This article has been reviewed and delineated to evaluate the arguments ofthe singer on the animal use.1) Singers’ argument on animal use 1.1) Speciesism is analogous to racism and sexismIn the article, the author has made an analogy between racism, sexism, and speciesism:“Speciesism- the word is not an attractive one, but I can think of no better term- is a prejudice orattitude of bias toward the interests of members of one’s own species and against those membersof other species. It should be obvious that the fundamental objections to racism and sexism madeby Thomas Jefferson and Sojourner Truth apply equally to speciesism.” (Peter Singer: AllAnimals are Equal) As written by the author, the difference between the three types of discrimination is that thediscrimination applies to the different group of species. Therefore, he believes that the reasonwhy racism and sexism are not justifiable should also apply to speciesism. Thus, he brings outthe idea that the basic principle of equality should be expanded to non-humans. He argues thatthe basis for equality is the equal consideration and the idea of equality id moral, not factual.

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Arguments on Animal Use: Essay