The Pros And Cons Of Factory Farming

Factory farming is a large-scale industrial operation that involves raising a large number of animals for food. On factory farms, cramming animals into extremely tight, unhygienic spaces is a common practice. Most do not have any access to the outdoors; instead, they spend the duration of their lives in metal pens, windowless sheds, or wire cages. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the animals undergo painful mutilations (ex. of the beak, tail, or feet) without anesthesia and are brutally killed when they are no longer of any use. The horrifying conditions present in factory farming cause the animals to endure severe physical and mental distress. In this paper, we will not be questioning the morally

Most individuals would be in agreement that brutalizing puppies is inhumane and atrocious – after all, dogs are frequently kept as companions and are known to the world as “man’s best friend.” The concept of causing them pain or suffering would seem appalling to most, and would perhaps even bring anguish to the aforementioned individuals. Many would be prepared to condemn Fred for his handling of the puppies. If there is such upset over tortured puppies, should there not be an equal amount of upset over the maltreatment of factory farm animals? Considering that puppies and factory farm animals both feel pain and pleasure and exhibit some rationality, this line of questioning seems reasonable. There are not any significant differences between the species. The condemnation that is applied to Fred should be extended to the millions of people who purchase and consume factory-raised meat in awareness of the suffering endured by the

To substantiate this claim, it is necessary for us to refer to the Doctrine of Double Effect, which maintains that “sometimes it is permissible to cause a harm as a side effect (or ‘double effect’) of bringing about a good result, even though it would not be permissible to cause such a harm as a means to bringing about [an equivalent] good end” (McIntyre). With that in mind, the initial statement appears to be accurate: it is wrong to torture puppies for gustatory pleasures, as the happiness Fred gains from tasting chocolate does not outweigh the suffering that is brought upon the puppies. It is apparent that this may be applicable to factory farm animals as well, because the suffering they bear is not outweighed by the “gustatory pleasures” of people, even if those people exist in greater numbers. If nothing else, it can be suggested that because more people are attending to their gustatory needs, a greater number of animals are