Dr. Tom Regan, an American philosopher who specializes in animal rights theory, said “To treat human beings in ways that do not honor their independent value is to violate the most basic of human rights: the right of each person to be treated with respect” (Regan). When it comes to what we deserve, ethics and fairness lie along the same line. To be fair is to be ethical and just. To be just means to look out for the common interests of all people and to impart the upmost levels of respect. When the topic of justice is mentioned it almost always relates to humans, but what about animals? Are animals on the same level or is there a distinction between man and animal. In his essay, several times, Arora asks the question “What do we deserve”? Wallace brought out in his essay that it is morally correct to consider what animals deserve. A fair system of ethics is necessary in order to ensure that the lives of all existing and living are not exploited because all deserve to live a valued life. The length of a life does not matter but rather the quality of life.
It is important to develop a certain level of respect for each individual life in a society which will promote a fair system of justice. It is commonly stated that it is imperative to treat others better then they treat you. There can be lasting benefits and results from treating others the way they deserve to be treated. Genuine respect for an individual will bypass any social or economic barriers. Respect and morals work well together. When we acknowledge the person before us, respectfully, whether we are the rule maker or the person abiding by the rules it is possible to establish equal opportunity. A main theme in Arora’s essay is that family status and wealth should not dete...
... middle of paper ...
... avoid following daily motions but reflect upon one’s status in all aspects of life.
To ensure a fair system of ethics, careful consider is necessary in order to improve the quality of life for each individual. This system can only come about if each person is determined to make the required changes. The most important thing an individual can do is to continue to reflect on their moral or ethically standing, and to seek ways in which to treat each other ethically. Often times a question of what is right or wrong can be answered if one considers the effect that it will have on another person. Society should strive to preserve humanity in seeking to think before acting and thinking about others. That point works hand in hand with respect. If we can respect one another, than it is possible to derive an ethical system where the needs of every individual comes first.
Throughout history, societies have been faced with many social issues affecting their citizens. Martin Luther King Jr, a civil rights leader for African Americans, was an advocate for the Civil Rights Movement, a movement that fought to undo the injustices African Americans endure by American society in the 1960s. Martin expressed his disgust with the social inequality among citizens when saying “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” (PETA). Taking the prominent leader’s words into consideration, we should progress as a society by participating in the animal rights movement that strives to extend the same compassion, felt by Martin Luther King Jr, to all living things (PETA). Popular criticisms report that animals are inferior to humans because they are a source of food, but I will argue that they are victims of social injustice. Validity for my animal rights argument will come from individual and organizational expert accounts and by Bioethicist Peter Singer, Author Francis Fukuyama, New York Time’s Mark Bittman and also Animal Rights organizations, such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), and Animal Equality, to help prove my argument. Animals are silent victims who are loudly crying out for someone to stand up for their rights; rights that can no longer be disregarded by being overlooked. It is my belief that animals should be respected, and afforded ethical and human treatment by society instead of being looked at as a source of food. In a society where animals have no voice, it is everyone’s civic duty to participate in the animal rights movement and acknowledge animals as living beings, which...
Philosophers and scholars have long debated the human moral and ethical obligations towards non-human animals. The opposing paradigms of animal ethics a...
In today’s day and age, meat is one of the most common portions of a human meal. According to the Census statistics from 2009 and 2010, United States is amongst the leading meat producing as well as meat consuming countries in the world, especially in beef and chicken.1 On the contrary, there is no census on human meat because no one consumes it. Yet, human meat and horsemeat are the same because it is meat from a body that has the capability of suffering as Singer proposed.
over 1,800 cases of animal cruelty in the past year because of the lack of animals having rights revealed in the media, with 64.5% involving dogs, 18% involving cats and the other 25% involving other animals. They should have rights because they have feelings, they are valuable, and they mean a lot to some families to the point where they’re considered to be a part of the family. Most importantly, humans are also animals, So think about how you would feel if someone had full control over you or someone you loved and did things to you that you didn’t enjoy or like. You have to think about their world from their standpoint. Yes, they are animals but they should not be less valued just because they are different from humans.
In his Meditations, Rene Descartes argues that animals are purely physical entities, having no mental or spiritual substance. Thus, Descartes concludes, animals can’t reason, think, feel pain or suffer. Animals, are mere machines with no consciousness. Use the Internet to explore the issue of animal rights. Investigate the legacy left by Rene Descartes concerning the moral status of animals.
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.
animals. If they keep the animals, then the animal will be treated as a pet or
Raising the issues of animal welfare is impossible to develop clear guidelines to judge by. However the principle is no different between men and animal. Working out animal rights in an actual practice that raise the concerns and role of ethics. Animals should be treated with compassion. A right without compassion cannot be used as a justifiable action.
Many people feel that animals have no rights and are here solely for our use.
"The Case For Animal Rights" written by Tom Regan, promotes the equal treatment of humans and non-humans. I agree with Regan's view, as he suggests that humans and animals alike, share the experience of life, and thus share equal, inherent value.
The Bill of Rights protects our freedom as individuals in the United States. It protects our freedom of speech, freedom of religion, etc. An Animals’ Bill of Rights would contain: the right to be free from abuse, the right to have a protective shelter, etc. Throughout the world, animals are being abused and mistreated by human beings. I believe creating the Animal Bill of Rights would be a great way to allow animals to be free from exploitation and neglect, because it is our society’s fault for causing harm on animals who are closely related to our kind.
Animals have their own rights as do to humans and we should respect that and give them the same respect we give each other. Animals deserve to be given those same basic rights as humans. All humans are considered equal and ethical principles and legal statutes should protect the rights of animals to live according to their own nature and remain free from exploitation. This paper is going to argue that animals deserve to have the same rights as humans and therefore, we don’t have the right to kill or harm them in any way. The premises are the following: animals are living things thus they are valuable sentient beings, animals have feeling just like humans, and animals feel pain therefore animal suffering is wrong. 2 sources I will be using for my research are “The Fight for Animal Rights” by Jamie Aronson, an article that presents an argument in favour of animal rights. It also discusses the counter argument – opponents of animal rights argue that animals have less value than humans, and as a result, are undeserving of rights. Also I will be using “Animal Liberation” by Peter Singer. This book shows many aspects; that all animals are equal is the first argument or why the ethical principle on which human equality rests requires us to extend equal consideration to animals too.
Animals deserve fair and ethical treatment, however not necessarily equally. Non-human animals and humans are not one in the same, there is no way we will ever be defined and put in the same category. Humans have reference levels, the ability to reason and think logically. We have evolved to the point where we can study, contain, and determine the outcome of basically any animal on Earth, now it’s up to us to ensure they are treated fairly.
It is the notion of our time that non-human animals exist for the advancement of the human species. In whatever field -- cookery, fashion, blood-sports -- it is held that we can only be concerned with animals as far as human interests exist. There may be some sympathy for those animals, as to limit practices which cause excruciating suffering, but those may only be limited if they are brought to public light, and if legislators receive enough pressure from the public to change.
Throughout the history of the world, there have been subjects of heated debates; there are a few facts that are undisputed. One of the undisputed facts is that animals existed and inhabited the planet before humans did and humans have been dependent on animals for thousands of years. Animals have played a very vital part in our history and one wonders whys should they be treated with much cruelty. While animals have been a great resource, a steady supply of food and clothing and even security, our treatment towards them has become nothing short of appalling. Since humans are dependent on animals for their well being, their comfort and at times their religion, there should be a moral obligation to treat animals.