Describe the Essay Topic
This essay proposes to investigate the ethics of training, and subsequently utilising, circus animals for the purpose of human entertainment. Therefore, the essay will respond to the question “what moral or ethical obligations do humans have in respect of other animals? How can these obligations be filled?” It should be noted that a distinction is made between morals, which are personal standards of behaviour – and ethics – which are moral principles that govern societal behaviour. This essay will focus on ethical obligations. Specifically, the treatment and training methods of circus animals will be researched to ascertain what, if any, physical or psychological discomfort results for the animals. More precisely, investigations will be undertaken to gauge circus animals’ quality of life, and thus arguments that circus animals both enjoy and loathe this treatment will be explored. Additionally, specific cases of cruelty to circus animals, together with various legislation that either allows or prohibits such behaviours, will be examined.
Once this contextualising research is complete and it is understood exactly what happens to circus animals, and how this happens, the essay will then focus on the ethics that underlie these practices, posing the poignant question ‘why is this allowed to occur?’ Thus, human attitudes and behaviours towards circus animals will be analysed to determine what the ethical obligations to circus animals are, and to what degree these are fulfilled or breached in contemporary times. Therefore, the divergence between the current and the ‘ideal’ treatments of circus animals will be examined. In doing so, the sentience and morality of animals will be investigated, by considering wh...
... middle of paper ...
...aken from this source will be used to compliment and corroborate information taken from other sources that are more specific to this topic and will also be useful in providing a more well-rounded understanding of the topic.
References
Alatola, E 2011, The ethics of animal circuses, The Captive Animals’ Protection Society, Manchester, UK.
Garner, R 1993, Animals, politics, and morality, Manchester University Press, Manchester, UK, pp. 92-94.
Nussbaum, MC 2006, ‘The moral status of animals’, The Chronicle of Higher Education, February 3, pp. 1-6.
PETA 2012, Circuses; Three Rings of Abuse, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, Norfolk, VA.
Ringling Bros 2010, Circus Animal Abuse, video, Youtube, October 23, viewed 26 March 2014, .
Roleff, TL, Hurley, JA 1999, The rights of animals, Greenhaven Press, San Diego.
The human-animal relationship is one that, in recent years, has come under heavy criticism. Organizations, such as PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), have been trying to raise awareness that this relationship may not be ethical. Changes have been made due to organizations like PETA and the HSUS (Humane Society of The United States). For example, Ringling Brothers Circus recently retired all of its elephants because people were boycotting the circus’s performances. Many people do not find anything about our relationship with animals unethical. The most common current uses for animals are agriculture, companionship, entertainment, and animal testing, each of which has its own controversial problems. A majority of
Wyckoff, Jason, and M.A Bertz. "The Animal Rights Debate: Abolition or Regulation? - By Gary L. Francione & Robert Garner." Journal of Applied Philosophy 28.4 (2011): 414-16. Print.
Many people would like to believe that animal cruelty doesn’t exist, but little do they know it is still happening all around the world every single day. The treatment we have on animals is unethical. It’s unreal how animal cruelty is still a thing because of the fact we live in a world of right versus wrong. Animals are looked as a form of product instead of what they really are, living breathing creatures. The use of animals in entertainment has been going on for thousands of years. Animals are forced into racing, captivity, violence, all for the sake of amusement to us. The children love to take a peek through the gates and cages of animals in zoos. People who are young and old love to watch the animals race. What people don’t know is that attending these events oftentimes means you’re supporting the abuse that is done to the animals. They have been taken out of their natural habitat, stripped from any rights they had, and forced to comply to the demands of human beings. The unfair treatment given to animals when used for entertainment purposes constitutes animal cruelty.
As Paul McCartney says, “You can judge a man's true character by the way he treats his fellow animals.” This famous quote applies to Dr. Randy Malamud, an animal ethicist who believes strongly in the idea that zoos are no place for animals. In the interview “Please Don’t Read the Animals: An Interview With Dr. Randy Malamud,” conducted by Professor Anna Schachner, Dr.Malamud clearly explains that wild animals should be kept in their own habitats. Rather than forcing animals into a box with metal bars around them, in order to be used as entertainment. Within reason, I do support Dr. Malamud’s opinion concerning this topic because when analyzed, the only benefit aside from food that humans see in animals is through zoos, circuses, and experiments. Animals can’t defend themselves against mans power. I believe animals’ lives should not be demeaned or played around with like a child plays with a toy. I support organizations and movements that promote animal rights in order to prevent man’s continual mistreatment towards animals, bringing more cultural awareness to the sensitivities needed for mankind to live in better harmony with our fellow creatures, and applaud the on-going work and struggles of animal rights activists across the world, appreciating what they have contributed to society.
The issue that has been raging for over many years is if animals should be owned by humans. This mainly concerns zoos, private owners and other facilities that hold animals. The public saw this issue and wanted to address it. Big organizations such as PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) are the ones who are mainly active in this dilemma. The people who are also interested in this issue are those who fit into the category of any side of the argument. Other people and organizations, who are interested in this topic, are zoos or animal wildlife parks. People of the public were interested in this issue, which is why there so many organizations and debates for the issue of animal cruelty. Zoos also promoted interest for this issue in the public, due to the high amount of visitors. There are two main viewpoints in this argument and one in the middle of both. One side is for animal being kept in zoos, facilities or owned by humans in general. The other side argues that animals should not be kept by anyone because they are nobody’s to own. The middle ground between the two points of view believes that only some people and facilities are allowed to take care of animals (basically those who are qualified).
Billions of animals are being slaughtered, abused, and harmed every year; causing enormous amounts of pain, suffering and distress upon them. It is wrong for humans to cause extended harm to animals for no compelling reason, for the fact that they have moral statuses. We have obligations to animals, and these are not simply grounded in human interests. However, the issues of moral status and equal consideration are far more fundamental and far-reaching in practical impact as DeGrazia have stated. (38) Animals have as much moral status and rights as humans do, and are most definitely worthy of our consideration in their lives.
Seeing maimed animals are not pleasant images. Those images sometimes appear across computer and television screens. The advocacy groups who place these images in the public’s view are trying to jolt people into the realization that abuse exists. For every ten seconds that goes by an animal is getting abused (“Animal… Statistics”). One statistic states that “71% of pet-owning women entering women’s shelters reported that their batterer had injured, maimed, killed or threatened family pets for revenge or to psychologically control victims; 32% reported their children had hurt or killed animals” (“Animal… Violence”). Animal cruelty comes in several forms, some of which people do not know. There is animal experimenting, animal abuse, and mistreatment of animals. and through revealing the results from research, one discovers the horrific effects of animal abuse.
Preview: So today, I would like to attempt to persuade you that circuses should stop using animals, with a ...
The article “Animals Used as Entertainment” lists rodeos, circuses, bullfighting, horse racing, cockfighting, dog fighting, and zoos as examples of the many ways animals are used in entertainment. Circuses and zoos are the two most relevant forms of animal mistreatment. Both of these are sources of entertainment for children and adults. Zoos declare that the...
The life of a circus animal is hard and demanding. It is not an acceptable way of life for an animal. Circuses would quickly lose their appeal if the public were more aware of their mistreatments of these animals. Many circuses do not have much money and as a result the animals suffer from inadequate care. These animals spend most of their time in small cages used for transportation. The Animal Welfare Act provides cage requirements, but many circuses fail to follow this law. Even the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey circus was cited for 65 violations over a two-year period according to Florence Lambert. When traveling, animals spend hours, even days between sites in confinement..
Wilson, D. A., 2009. Racial Prejudice and the Performing Animals Controversy in early Twentieth-Century Britain. Society and animals , Issue 17, pp. 149-165.
Waples KA, Stagoll CS. Ethical issues in the release of animals from captivity. Roundtable. 1997; 115-120.
Animal abuse is a travesty in our world that must be stopped. Every year, millions of animals suffer because of human actions, directly or indirectly. Whether it’s abused dogs and cats or even mistreated circus animals, their suffering is as real as it would be if it happened to us. Even animals who are raised on farms simply for human consumption should not have to suffer. One of the worst parts of humanity’s role in animal abuse is that there are easy ways for people to help that they are either ignorant of or simply refuse to do. There are many examples of animals who are abused by humans, but there are also ways for people to help prevent and put an end to animal abuse.
Some aspects of Animal abuse are completely avoidable, the cruelty brings no scientific knowledge, food, or testing. In the entertainment industry “wild and exotic animals are trained through the use of intimidation and physical abuse. Former circus employees have reported seeing animals beaten, whipped, poked with sharp objects and even burned to force them to learn their routines!”(dosomething) Cruelty for entertainment is not a fair trade by any means.
Smith, RaeLeann. "Circus Animals: Abused and Dangerous." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 Nov. 2007. Web. 6 Apr. 2014.