Living Together with Animals What are the Ethical Questions on This?

Animals as Objects of UsePets- abandonment, over-population.FoodClothingLeather GoodsMedicines and ShampoosHuntingEntertainmentZoos

Objects of Use- PetsAbandonedAbusedOver-population

Animals as Objects- HensPacked in cages (typically less than half a square foot of floor space per bird), 6 hens can become immobilized and die ofasphyxiation or dehydration

Laying Hens[T]he American laying hen passes her brief span piled together with a half-dozen other hens in a wire cage. Every natural instinct of this animal is thwarted, leading to a range of behavioral vices that can include cannibalizing her cage mates. She rubs her body against the wire mesh until it is bleeding and featherless.10 percent or so of hens that cant bear it and simply die.

Animals as Objects of Use-PigsReal-life Babes see no sun in their limited lives, with no hay to lie on, no mud to roll in.Piglets are weaned from their mothers [23 weeks] after birth (compared with 13 weeks in nature).This premature weaning leaves the pigs with a lifelong craving to suck and chew- they bite tails of other pigs.

PigsApproximately 200,000 pigs arrive dead at U.S. slaughterhouses each year. 12 Many of these deaths are caused by a lack of ventilation on transport trucks in hot weather. 15 Shown at left are U.S. pigs on a transport truck loaded in Oklahoma and destined for a slaughterhouse south of Mexico Citya journey that would last more than 30 hours.In transit

CattleIt takes 25 minutes to turn a live steerinto steak at the modern slaughterhousewhere Ramon Moreno works. The cattlewere supposed to be dead before theygot to Moreno. But too often theywerent.They blink. They make noises,he said softly. The head moves,the eyes are wide and looking around.Still Moreno would cut. On bad days,he says, dozens of animals reachedhis station clearly alive and conscious.Some would survive as far as the tailcutter, the belly ripper, the hide puller.They die, said Moreno, piece by piece.

Entertainment Animals- UseStandard circus industry training tools used on animals include bull hooks, whips, clubs, and electric prods.Employees report abuse of circus elephants.Circus elephants

Circus ElephantsBeing trained to lay down

An elephant is being trained to lie down.

Entertainment Animals-ObjectsLions and tigers, are constantly on the move in their native habitats. In the circus, animals spend most of their time in cages or chains.

Elephant RidingFun, But CruelJune1,2009

Dolphins and Whales

Whale HuntingContemporary whaling is subject to intense debate. Pro-whaling countries wish to lift the ban on stocks that they believe have recovered sufficiently to sustain limited hunting Anti-whaling countries and environmental groups contend that those stocks remain vulnerable and that whaling is immoral and should remain banned

Dolphin HuntDolphin drive hunting, also called dolphin drive fishing, is a method of hunting dolphins and occasionally other small cetaceans by driving them together with boats and then usually into a bay or onto a beach. Their escape is prevented by closing off the route to the open sea or ocean with boats and nets.

Research Animals112,200 monkeys used in labs in U.S.Diseases-; Psychological disorders, transplants, vaccine, drub abuse tests.

Animals in Research Animal tests arent reliable. People and animals are different and thats why a medicine or cosmetic ingredient that is safe on animals may not be it on people or vice-versa. For example aspirin is toxic to rats and mice but not to people Animal testing is cruel.There are alternatives to animal testing

Benefits- AnimalsThanks to research using animals, diseases such as polio have been virtually wiped out. Other illnesses, such as diabetes and arthritis, are controlled through animal research.Animals benefit from research, too! diseases, and developed vaccinesall by using animals in biomedical research.

Regulations for CareAnimal Care CommitteesRefinement, Reduction & Replacement-Three RsOther Countries

Animals as Rights HoldersRights conferring characteristics- intelligence, sentience- ability to feel and suffer.What rights then do animals have?LifeLife in natural habitatFreedom from pain and suffering.

The Five FreedomsFreedom from thirst, hunger and malnutrition Freedom from discomfort, pain, injury, or disease Freedom to express normal behavior Freedom from fear and distressFreedom to be free

The Moral QuestionThe Mental Ladder-We human beings do have a ladder representing our judgment as to likeability- those at the top are genetically like us and those we have domesticated to behave in ways we prefer.

The Dismissal PositionDescartes- animals are mere machines and do not feel.

Animal Welfare PositionEnormous benefits to humans and necessary to medical progress.Humans dominant/superior.Animals do not suffer.

Utilitarian PositionAbility to suffer is key.Value increases with richness of life-ways can suffer and receive pleasure.Raymond Frey- Quality of life of some humans lower than that of some animals.

UtilitarianismThe question is not, Can they reason? nor, Can they talk? but, Can they suffer?Jeremy BenthamAn Introduction to the Principles of Morals & Legislation, 1789

The Kantian PositionRational criteria-intelligence, consciousness, intentions.The way we treat animals is relevant to the way we treat humans.

Inherent Value & RightsValue not tied to mental states or talents of others or use or how viewed by others.Rights= moral trump cards-trump collective interest.

Nussbaum- CapabilitiesThe opportunity to unfold their powers and to flourish in their own way and to lead a life with dignity.

Koko- The Gorilla