1.8: Introduction to Animal Ethics
- Page ID
- 31040
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Finally, we will read the prefaces and introductions to our main texts. They are all interesting; Singer’s is especially important to the historic development of the animal movement. We can use Regan’s “cat case” and its variants as a unifying theme for inquiry. We will try to determine which broad view below is supported by the best moral reasons:
- Any (or almost any) use of animals is morally permissible; there are no moral obligations to animals.
- Seriously harming animals (e.g., causing them pain and suffering, killing them, etc.) is morally permissible provided they are housed in comfortable cages.
- Seriously harming animals is permissible provided they are housed in comfortable cages, treated gently and killed painlessly.
- Seriously harming animals is typically morally wrong, even if they are housed in comfortable cages, treated gently and killed painlessly.