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Philisophical perspective animal rights
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Recommended: Philisophical perspective animal rights
Prior to this course, my understanding of environmental issues was limited. When it comes to planet earth, there are many interpretations of how humans see the world and interact with it. These interpretations are referred to as our worldviews. There are certain prevailing values of society that are contributed by our history. Religion and culture are the major influences on these values. Overtime every community establishes its own views about the world. This makes it hard for people to accept new information that does not appropriately fit with their own world views. In this course understanding issues pertaining to the environment is best understood through a complex ethical framework. In Carolyn Merchant’s “Radical Ecology” explores issues …show more content…
There needs to be a clear understanding that non-human subjects also do suffer and there is nothing we can do to stop that suffering. Non-human animals are very much similar to humans but, we cannot assess how much suffering they are enduring. and therefore people who are holding other try to justify how we treat these non-human animals. Answering these types of fundamental question can help assess a course of action for animal treatments. Branching of the ethics of ecocentrism my theoretical assumptions about my own ethics and worldview would be holism. A philosophical theory that considers the value of the whole over the an individual entity. The value of the individual, then would only depend on the contribution the individual makes for the good of the whole. The most general type of holism in environmental ethics is ecocentrism. Many people whose worldviews align with holism argue that it, can cause the most or less value to individual if people decided to become a part of the ecosystem processes. On the other side of the argument if we must intrinsic value to all existing things equal, would that bring about shortages in normal animals, for example, chicken and cows would considerably not be worth as extraordinary or jeopardized species …show more content…
However, many accuse that hoists essentially ignore the wort for people recognizing their worth from their ecological commitments. Other arguments against holism is that the entire for example, ecosystems and species do not have those intrinsic value Also that species don't have a good on their own. Hence their good must take chances, to be subordinate of the worth of distinctive organisms, which would have a great on their own. This approach inevitably turned out so great that a few scholars started to think about Animal rights a unique field from environmental ethics and dedication for holism to be will comprehensive characteristic of environmental ethics. An mix from claiming ethics and the field from claiming ecology, the examine of the connections between organic entities Furthermore, their surroundings “moral extensionism”: those extension about morals Past people to land, plants, animals, and so forth. view people Concerning illustration and only the nature, as opposed to it being from it. In the Animal liberation movements, it strongly contends that we should in part have some moral consideration for
"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 essay “Ill-gotten Gains” first appeared in a book called ‘Health Care Ethics’ and was written by Tom Regan who is a renowned philosopher, author and animal rights advocate. The essay appeared again in Tom Regan’s best known book called ‘The Case for Animal Rights’ which states Regan’s beliefs regarding animal rights and provides a sound argument as to why animals should not be exploited for our own gain. Tom Regan believes all animal use that benefits humans is morally unacceptable including for food, entertainment, labour, experiments and research. “Ill-gotten Gains” argues that to be on the right moral path we need to view all individuals with inherent value as a ‘subject of a life’. Regan argues that any practice in which a ‘subject of a life’ is used as a resource is immoral, not because of emotion, but because of reason. Any individual with a sense of a future, awareness and purpose is considered to be a ‘subject of a life’ and has equal inherent value. Regan also takes time to explore the argument that humans have souls while animals do not.
It is generally agreed that modern environmentalism begins with ‘A Fable for Tomorrow’, the first chapter in Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring (1962). The fairytale-like opening to the book begins with the words, ‘There was once a town in the heart of America where all life seemed to live in harmony with its surroundings’, painting a classic pastoral picture where she describes civilization far from modern ills coexisting with nature yet away from the perceived danger of the wild. However pastoral peace swiftly gives way to destruction- 'Then a strange blight crept over the area and everything began to change. Some evil spell had settled on the community: mysterious maladies swept the flocks of chickens; the cattle and sheep
For Kant, we can use non-human animals as we desire, because we are rational beings who are superior to them. Kantian Ethics encourages the view that we should not treat human beings as ends in themselves, ‘act in such a way that you treat humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of another, always at the same time as an end and never simply as a means.’ (Kant, 2012, p.41) However, since non-human animals do not apply to this, Kant believes we have the right to treat them as ends and so we can keep them captive. Kant believes that the only reason we should avoid being cruel to animals is that in doing so we might develop cruel habits that we would inflict on other people. Therefore, it is for our own benefit rather than for the welfare of the animal itself. This proves that for Kant, non-human animals do not possess any rights. This associates with the view that humans have little, if any duty to non-human animals because humans are more important. Therefore, if keeping animals in zoos serves any educational or entertainment purposes, which many claims it does, we can ethically do it according to
The ethical system that I propose has the goal of what is ultimately good for human beings. The ultimate good of human beings lie in going beyond their individual needs because instinctually animals strive to fulfill their individual bio-organic ne...
In his essay, The Ethics of Respect for Nature, Paul Taylor presents his argument for a deontological, biocentric egalitarian attitude toward nature based on the conviction that all living things possess equal intrinsic value and are worthy of the same moral consideration. Taylor offers four main premises to support his position. (1) Humans are members of the “Earth’s community of life” in the same capacity that nonhuman members are. (2) All species exist as a “complex web of interconnected elements” which are dependent upon one another for their well-being. (3) Individual organisms are “teleological centers of life” which possess a good of their own and a unique way in which to pursue it. (4) The concept that humans are superior to other species is an unsupported anthropocentric bias.
I believe that if an animal that is causing a great amount of suffering to the animals that live in an ecosystem, then it is ok to kill the animal that is causing the suffering. I know that you will be causing pain to a species, but compared to the amount of suffering that would happen to the rest of the animals, this is far less. Another argument against my thought would be how would we be able to in account everyone’s intrinsic value with the animal welfare approach. Showing how if we look at the good of all, then we could possibly end up harming animal with intrinsic value. Instead of looking at what has intrinsic value or not however. What needs to be considered, like mentioned before, is the welfare of the rest of the animals in an ecosystem. If we keep one animals alive due to its intrinsic value, but that animal kill off the rest of the animals in an ecosystem. Then, what about the intrinsic value of the rest of the animals? Which is why I believe that bringing the overall greatest amount of happiness to an entire ecosystem is far greater than worrying about the rights of each animal, even if that means bringing some suffering to an animal species. I believe that we should kill an animal species if it brings a great amount of suffering to an ecosystem, only if it can cause a greater amount of
Clive Ponting's The Green History of the World and Daniel Quinn's Ishmael both critique the dominant paradigms of modern human civilization-especially where its relationship with environment is concerned. Both feel strongly that we are in trouble. Neither are quite willing to make final connections and present us with a systematic method for getting out of our impending ecological crisis, but they both do spell out what has been wrong, what is wrong now, and what will happen should we choose not to take evasive action.
Mary Oliver's (Clinebell, 1996, p.188) poem has a lot to say about the relatively new approach to conservation called ecopsychology. Ecopsychology combines the human element from psychology, with the study of how biological systems work together from ecology. A more in depth explanation of ecopsychology is that it seeks to help humans experience themselves as an integral part of nature (Strubbe 1997). When this is accomplished, humans can proceed to commit to "helping heal the earth, as well as healing ourselves" (Strubbe 1997, p. 293). In the past, environmental action has consisted of scaring and shaming those who over consume or do not recycle, which proved to be quite ineffective. Ecopsychology, in contrast, attempts to create positive and affirming motivations, derived from a bond of love and loyalty to nature (Bayland, 1995). Before tackling the principles, religious aspects, therapy, actions and education included in ecopsychology, it is essential to unde...
A human induced global ecological crisis is occurring, threatening the stability of this earth and its inhabitants. The best path to address environmental issues both effectively and morally is a dilemma that raises concerns over which political values are needed to stop the deterioration of the natural environment. Climate change; depletion of resources; overpopulation; rising sea levels; pollution; extinction of species is just to mention a few of the damages that are occurring. The variety of environmental issues and who and how they affect people and other species is varied, however the nature of environmental issues has the potential to cause great devastation. The ecological crisis we face has been caused through anthropocentric behavior that is advantageous to humans, but whether or not anthropocentric attitudes can solve environmental issues effectively is up for debate. Ecologism in theory claims that in order for the ecological crisis to be dealt with absolutely, value and equality has to be placed in the natural world as well as for humans. This is contrasting to many of the dominant principles people in the contemporary world hold, which are more suited to the standards of environmentalism and less radical approaches to conserving the earth. I will argue in this essay that whilst ecologism could most effectively tackle environmental problems, the moral code of ecologism has practical and ethical defects that threaten the values and progress of anthropocentricism and liberal democracy.
“Unless humanity is suicidal, it should want to preserve, at the minimum, the natural life-support systems and processes required to sustain its own existence” (Daily p.365). I agree with scientist Gretchen Daily that drastic action is needed now to prevent environmental disaster. Immediate action and changes in attitude are not only necessary for survival but are also morally required. In this paper, I will approach the topic of environmental ethics from several related sides. I will discuss why the environment is a morally significant concern, how an environmental ethic can be developed, and what actions such an ethic would require to maintain and protect the environment.
The purpose of this paper is to answer the question: should non-human animals have rights? I firmly believe that non-human animals should be given rights, rights such as the right to freedom, the right to be treated with respect and care, and the right to not be exploited. Non-human animals are similar to humans in many ways and they should not be subjected to the unsanitary and crowded living conditions that factory farms and other forms of non-human animal mass production factories force them into.. They have families that they care for females bear their children just as humans do. Many human beings take think they have an inferior position over non-human animals and inflict extreme suffering upon them. I believe non-human animals should be given rights.
I have understood that the Sustainability study involves the transformation of our civilization toward a regenerative system that promotes healthy and stable ecosystems, consumes natural resources no faster than they can replenish, releases toxic pollutants into our habitat no faster than they can be absorbed, fosters healthy and cohesive habitats that can coexist and continue long time in the future. Sustainability initiatives work to change the world by changing activities in our personal and professional lives to achieve these objectives. I have learned that the Sustainability Revolution is a collection of values centered on healthy ecosystems, economic activities, and social justice. From the intensive focus on this topic during the last few weeks and from further readings on this subject, I have learned that Sustainability encompasses not just conservation and pollution, but a wide array of other issues, including Eco literacy, biodiversity, globalization, socially responsible investing, corporate social responsibility, human rights, population explosion, health, social and environmental justice, farming, labor issues, and women’s rights. I have also learned that Sustainability strategies are essential, transformative, and collaborative work involving participation of hundreds of thousands of citizens, communities and businesses around the world. Every organization and informed citizen needs to understand the perils that lie ahead and contribute their part towards Sustainability
Environmental philosophy tries to make sense of the unexamined values, assumptions and ideologies behind humanities treatment of the environment and, in doing so, aims at helping to elicit an effective human response to related issues (Curry, 2011). Environmental philosophy, has gone beyond being merely an academic pursuit, now requiring the world’s population take moral responsibility for the damages caused by their industrial advances on natural systems.
Anthropocentrism is the school of thought that human beings are the single most significant entity in the universe. As a result, the philosophies of those with this belief reflect the prioritization of human objectives over the well-being of one’s environment. However, this is not to say that anthropocentric views neglect to recognize the importance of preserving the Earth. In fact, it is often in the best interests of humans to make concerted efforts towards sustaining the environment. Even from a purely anthropocentric point of view, there are three main reasons why mankind has a moral duty to protect the natural world.