Animals and Ethics

Third slideshow for a course on Environmental Ethics.

Transcript

1. Animals and Ethics Who counts? George Matthews CC 2017
2. lifeboat ethics
3. lifeboat ethics case 1 There were four sailors stranded in a lifeboat with little food and no water. After three weeks, two of them killed the weakest among them and the three remaining men ate him.
4. lifeboat ethics case 1 There were four sailors stranded in a lifeboat with little food and no water. After three weeks, two of them killed the weakest among them and the three remaining men ate him. Should they have been charged with murder?
5. lifeboat ethics
6. lifeboat ethics case 2
7. lifeboat ethics case 2 Three sailors and a chimpanzee are stranded in a lifeboat with little food and no water. After three weeks, two of them kill the chimpanzee and the three men eat him.
8. lifeboat ethics case 2 Three sailors and a chimpanzee are stranded in a lifeboat with little food and no water. After three weeks, two of them kill the chimpanzee and the three men eat him. Should they be charged with murder?
9. the dogma of difference
10. the dogma of difference
11. the dogma of difference We are in charge, they are made for our use.
12. the dogma of difference We are in charge, they are made for our use. We have souls, they don’t.
13. the dogma of difference We are in charge, they are made for our use. We have souls, they don’t. We are smart, they aren’t.
14. the dogma of difference We are in charge, they are made for our use. We have souls, they don’t. We are smart, they aren’t. We have social relations, they don’t.
15. the dilemma of biology
16. the dilemma of biology Understanding of animals means . . .
17. the dilemma of biology Understanding of animals means . . . ! We are all part of one big family.
18. the dilemma of biology Understanding of animals means . . . ! We are all part of one big family. ! Many animals have complex social relations.
19. the dilemma of biology Understanding of animals means . . . ! We are all part of one big family. ! Many animals have complex social relations. ! We identify with them and value their companionship.
20. the dilemma of biology Understanding of animals means . . . ! We are all part of one big family. ! Many animals have complex social relations. ! We identify with them and value their companionship. ! They are useful as lab test subjects.
21. the dilemma of biology Understanding of animals means . . . ! We are all part of one big family. ! Many animals have complex social relations. ! We identify with them and value their companionship. ! They are useful as lab test subjects. ! They can be forced to work for us and entertain us.
22. the dilemma of biology Understanding of animals means . . . ! We are all part of one big family. ! Many animals have complex social relations. ! We identify with them and value their companionship. ! They are useful as lab test subjects. ! They can be forced to work for us and entertain us. ! We can make them produce meat and milk faster.
23. defending the status quo
24. defending the status quo
25. defending the status quo 1. We are more powerful than other animals, so what we say goes.
26. defending the status quo 1. We are more powerful than other animals, so what we say goes. 2. We need to use them as we do.
27. defending the status quo 1. We are more powerful than other animals, so what we say goes. 2. We need to use them as we do. 3. The benefits of using animals as we do outweigh the costs.
28. the case for reform
29. the case for reform
30. the case for reform 1. We feel sympathy for some animals and it hurts us to see them mistreated.
31. the case for reform 1. We feel sympathy for some animals and it hurts us to see them mistreated. 2. Harming animals causes us to not care enough about each other.
32. animal liberation
33. animal liberation
34. animal liberation 1. Denying that animal suffering counts has no moral justification.
35. animal liberation 1. Denying that animal suffering counts has no moral justification. 2. We cannot consistently deny all other animals rights and maintain rights for all humans.