Killing, Suffering and Callousness; How it Affects the Rights of Non-Intensively Reared Animals

Roger Crisp argues in Utilitarianism and Vegetarianism that humans are morally required to eat meat (Soifer, 35). According to Roger Crisp, Vegetarianism is an immoral act; we are morally obligated to eat meat provided the meat is not from factory farms (Soifer, 35-36). Crisp believes we are able to eat non-intensively reared animals, just so long as the animals live an enjoyable life. However he says, “This is not the case in factory farms” (Soifer, 35). Factory farming consists of multiple animals being brutally killed in order to create food for humans. The treatment an animal will face in factory farms is morally questionable; it is these types of actions of which lead humans to the idea of vegetarianism. Crisp’s definition of Vegetarianism is “one is morally required to abstain from meat”. He uses this definition to distinguish Vegetarianism from The Compromise Permission View, otherwise known as CP. CP states “one is morally required to abstain from the flesh of intensively reared animals, but permitted to eat the flesh of certain non-intensively-reared animals” (Crisp, 36). Replaceability is an important aspect to address in non-intensively reared animals as it restores animals in the meat- eating industry. Through further analysis, I will be assessing Crisp’s many arguments against Vegetarianism from the perspective of non-human animal’s rights and liberties, assessing Crisp’s response to arguments based on the suggestion of Human and animal suffering. First, I will define animal’s rights according to The Rights of Animals and unborn Generations, by Joel Feinberg, who determines the characteristics needed in order to have these rights. Secondly, I will take into consideration the ‘Argument from killing’ and ‘the Argument ...

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... they are needed in society not only for the economy, but for the pleasure of their own lives and the lives of human beings.

Works Cited

Crisp, Roger (1988). Utilitarianism and Vegetarianism. International Journal of Applied Philosophy 4 (1):41-49.

Feinberg, Joel. Rights, Justice, and the Bounds of Liberty: Essays in Social Philosophy "The Rights of Animals and Unborn Generations," Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1980, 159-84. Essay.

Phillips, John-Otto. "Legal Theory, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and Mill’s Harm Principle." Philosophy: Law and Society. Chester New Hall, Hamilton, ON. 10 Jan 2011. Lecture.

Soifer, Eldon. Ethical Issues: Perspective for Canadians. 3rd. Toronto, ON: Broadview Press, 2009. 35-43. Print.

Soifer, Eldon. Ethical Issues: Perspective for Canadians. 3rd. Toronto, ON: Broadview Press, 2009. 9-14. Print.