AN SC 215 Lecture Notes - Lecture 13: Vegetarianism, Human Subject Research, Consumerism
Animal Rights and Animal Welfare
Applies to all uses of animals
o Biomedical research, zoos, agriculture, pets
o Entertainment (zoos, rodeo, circus, movies)
Spectrum of Animal rights/Welfare:
Animal Animal
Domination Liberation
Historical Background
o Religious
Judeo-Christian view: Genesis :8 N)V Only humans have souls
Hindu: many deities, incarnations- according to various schools of
Hinduism, no distinction between human beings and other life forms
Buddhist: animals are sentient beings, reincarnation
o Descartes (1596-1650)- animals function as machines, lack the ability to think and
talk, therefore can be used as machines
o J. Benthem- Utilitarian view
The greatest good for the greatest number
Strives for a balance between suffering and gain (cost/benefit analysis)
o Ruth Harrison- Animal Machines (1964)
Described intensive poultry and livestock farming, led to a UK investigation
into those practices let by Roger Brambell
o The Brambell Report (1965)- the Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare
Freedom from hunger and thirst
Freedom from discomfort
Freedom from pain, injury, or disease
Freedom to express normal behavior
Freedom from fear and distress
o Peter Singer father of modern animal rights movement)
1975: Animal Liberation: A New Ethic for Our Treatment of Animals-
philosophical framework and call to action
Speciesism- a prejudice or attitude of bias in favor of the interests of one’s
own species and against those members of other species
Goal of Rights-Based Legislation: Change the Legal status of animals
o Promote change from property to something more based on intellect and/or
capabilities of each species
o Often advocate bans on research, hunting, other uses of animals (service animals,
pets, etc.)
(ow do we determine which animals should have rights?
o Rights of animals should be based on their intelligence?
Descartes
“New
Welfarists”
PETA,
IDA
ALF
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Applies to all uses of animals: biomedical research, zoos, agriculture, pets, entertainment (zoos, rodeo, circus, movies) Historical background: religious, descartes (1596-1650)- animals function as machines, lack the ability to think and. Hinduism, no distinction between human beings and other life forms. Hindu: many deities, incarnations- according to various schools of. Judeo-christian view: genesis (cid:883):(cid:884)8 (cid:523)n)v(cid:524) (cid:498)only humans have souls(cid:499) (cid:498)the greatest good for the greatest number(cid:499) Strives for a balance between suffering and gain (cost/benefit analysis) talk, therefore can be used as machines: benthem- utilitarian view, ruth harrison- (cid:498)animal machines(cid:499) (1964) into those practices let by roger brambell. Described intensive poultry and livestock farming, led to a uk investigation: the brambell report (1965)- the five freedoms of animal welfare. Freedom from fear and distress philosophical framework and call to action own species and against those members of other species. 1975: animal liberation: a new ethic for our treatment of animals-
