PHILOS 1B03 Lecture Notes - Special Relationship, Presupposition
25 Mar 2013
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Document Summary
Singer: a utilitarian defence of animal liberation . Pu: utility is identified with the satisfaction of preferences. An action is right if it results in the greatest net satisfaction of preferences (in both quantity and intensity) or the smallest net dissatisfaction of preferences. Respect for preferences is not compatible with discrimination. Opposition to discrimination is a key to defence of animal liberation. Preference utilitarian believe that everyone"s interests should be given equal consideration. Everything, which is capable of suffering, has interests and preferences. If a being suffers, there is no moral justification for refusing to take that suffering into account. Animal"s ability to suffer indicates they have interests, which can be affected by action. Pos: no moral basis for refusing to take animal"s suffering into account. Poe: we ought to treat the interests of everyone capable of suffering equally. What do we do when preferences of animals conflict with preferences of human. Practices which singer condemns, could be permitted.
