Treatment of Animals

1. Singer argues that there is no moral justification for denying moral consideration to animals.

a. Can you think of a reason why our moral consideration should include all humans regardless of their level of cognitive ability, yet denied to non-human animals simply because they have lower levels of cognitive abilities (though still higher in some cases than those of human infants and some mentally disabled humans)?

b. What response might he have to your way of drawing the line between the types of beings that should get moral consideration and those that should not?

Mosser, K. (2013). Understanding philosophy
Chapter 6: Traditional Theories of Ethics
Utilitarianism
Problems with Utilitarianism
Great Ideas: The Trolley Problem
Tyranny of the Majority
Mill’s Response
Vegetarianism
Animal Rights

Treatment of Animals

1. Singer argues that there is no moral justification for denying moral consideration to animals.

a. Can you think of a reason why our moral consideration should include all humans regardless of their level of cognitive ability, yet denied to non-human animals simply because they have lower levels of cognitive abilities (though still higher in some cases than those of human infants and some mentally disabled humans)?

b. What response might he have to your way of drawing the line between the types of beings that should get moral consideration and those that should not?

Mosser, K. (2013). Understanding philosophy
Chapter 6: Traditional Theories of Ethics
Utilitarianism
Problems with Utilitarianism
Great Ideas: The Trolley Problem
Tyranny of the Majority
Mill’s Response
Vegetarianism
Animal Rights