I reject factory farming and animal cruelty in every sense of the word because it’s just another dark form of discrimination. Racist look down on those based on their skin color and background, sexiest do the same to woman based on their gender, heterosexist deny basic rights to lesbians, gay, or transgender based all together on sexual orientation. Speciesists follow the same path based only on species. Although Peter Singer rejects speciesism, he reminds everyone that because nonhumans don’t have the same minds as we humans do, they don’t possess the same interest of continuing to live and we wouldn’t be harming them if we kill them “humanely,” also “Humans are forward-looking beings, and they have hopes and desires for their future. That seems a plausible answer to the question of why it’s so tragic when humans die.” I find that too, a form of speciesism. I am against factory farming and for animal rights because simply by treating animals better we get a lot more from it, and by farming animals in a legit, healthy way we improve the quality of life of both sides in MANY ways.
To know what we get out of Factory farming and the side effects go to the following link. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Factory_farming
(I am in favor of animal rights and against factory farming).
If we had five days to live wouldn’t we want to make them the best days of our life? Then why not treat these poor animals fairly. I mean either way we are going to eat them. What makes us different from the animals we eat? Imagine your last days being hung from the roof and beaten with a bat. How bout stuck in a room with six billion other people being injected with medicine and hormones. Would you be able to breathe? Your going to die anyway right so who cares.
I agree with Peter Singer in the sense that animals have the ability to feel pain. I understand that in the U.S the demand for food is extremely high, however; that is no valid reason for abusing animals. “The large concentration of animals, animal waste, and the potential for dead animals in a small space poses ethical issues.” This is what drives the diseases that evolve from animals. “Artificial methods are employed to maintain animal health and improve production, such as the use of antimicrobial agents, vitamin supplements, and growth hormones.” This is basically what we are eating. On the other hand, if we were to raise animals without artificial methods we would be receiving all their nutrients. In the end, treating these animals fairly would benefit both them and us as a society. We would be eating healthier food and the animals would enjoy their last days.
I believe that the practice of treating animals any kind of way is unethical and in just. I tend to side with philosopher Peter Singer in his argument that animals deserve rights because of their ability to feel pain. The fact that they are living creatures who can feel pain means that they know what it’s like to experience pleasure. Why should they be held from living a pleasant life and why are we humans deciding for them how they live? Just because they can’t communicate their feelings and because we are able to overpower them doesn’t give us the right to. The reason why certain animal activities, such as dog fighting, is illegal is because it’s harmful to the animals involved and it’s inhumane. If this is the case, factory farming should not be allowed because it not only puts animals in unsafe situations, but they live an unhealthy and unnatural life. I would prefer a free range and natural chicken because its quality would be higher and the health hazards against me would be fewer. The reason why factory farming is highly acceptable in the U.S is because of its inexpensiveness and our high demand on animal products, though this is not a sufficient enough reason to treat animals like a piece of property.
I am a strong proponent of animal rights and I firmly stand against the practices of factory farming and animal cruelty for I believe that animals inherently deserve this level of respect. I agree with Singer’s justification for animal rights in that their necessity is based on an animal’s capacity to feel pain. Since we define truth as a “justified true belief that provides the best explanation for the justifying evidence,” it seems logical to accept that when we observe animals to be acting in a way that corresponds to our own pain behavior, that they are indeed experiencing pain. Furthermore, I disagree with Scruton’s counterargument that animal’s cannot have rights as a consequence of a lack of obligations because this statement generalizes responsibility. To illustrate this point, consider the idea that responsibility may come in proportion to cognitive ability. For instance, the Spanish parliament has actually granted some human rights to certain chimpanzees.* It is too be noted that they have been granted some rights, not all, showing a kind of proportion system followed. Humans have more responsibility than, say, a chicken, because of their greater mental ability. However, animals clearly possess more cognitive ability than plants, for instance, and I believe they have the right to a dignified life.
I'm opposed to factory farming because I find it sickening and wrong. I’m no expert but it’s a matter of time one of these chickens comes up with some new virus caused by all theses hormones and antibiotics. The U.S. is obese and these factories are feeding the frenzy. Meanwhile the factories main concern is profit not safety or health. Health should be our main concern and these practices can only lead to harmful outcomes. I am 100% in favor of organic farming it gives the livestock the freedom of a real life and in the end we eat healthier. Factory farming is inhuman; to be kept in 2 by 7 crates and bundled up with no room to move is completely wrong. Almost reminds me of slavery the way the Africans where brought here in ships packed to the brim. Like with everything in time more people will become aware and demand what’s right. Its simple good practices bring about good results.
"God loved the birds and invented trees. Man loved the birds and invented cages". Jacques Deval, Afin de vivre bel et bien.
I believe that in an ideal world human beings would be vegetarians, that way problems like factory farming, slaughterhouses and other cruelties that the so called "homo sapiens" commit against animals, would all be avoided. With that being said and knowing that we do not live in an ideal world, we need to realize that the way we are breeding animals for food is a total threat to our planet.It pollutes our environment while consuming huge amounts of water, grain, pesticides and drugs. I believe that most people who eat meat simply choose not to think about all the process involved into converting a living animal to meat on their daily diet. Not to mention the way they raise, breed and kill the inoccent animals that later on, you are all going to see on your plates. By switching to a vegetarian diet,our society would be able to elimate the needless suffering and deaths of countless animals. By raising and eating meat leaves behind an environmental toll that future generations will be forced to pay. I believe we should treat the animals the same way we would wished to be treated, if they were to be in our dominant position. We need to understand that animals are not ours to use for food, clothing, entertainment, experimentation, or any other reason. I agree and support the philosopher Peter Singer's argument that animals deserve rights because of their ability to feel pain. Of course that would not be the only reason why animals deserve rights and those rights should be protected and enforced, but definitely the argument of them being able to feel pain is a very strong one. Besides talking about factory farming, animal cruelty, vegetarianism, animal rights, I would also like to leave something else for everyone to think about: Why are human beings trying to humanize their animals/pets? Who ever said that puppies like to walk in shoes, or wear bowls in the head, or even worse, to stay locked up in a tiny apartment all day waiting for the selfish owner to come home tired from work and give this poor lonely pet 10 minutes of his attention? To me it is just another form of cruelty.
Flavia, wonderful introduction as well as your whole general discussion- Very well said. We are animals, we feel pain, we get uncomfortable in clustered space, we'll squeal and cry when we are in danger.Not only is factory farming unethical, but what are we really getting out of such means to provide food? This same crucial method to feed the nation was the same method to bring SWINE FLU to the table.Some scientists say that inhumane factory farming helped caused the outbreak. The humane society of the united states says that pigs are forced into tiny cages and are even unable to turn around. It's so stressful on the animals that their immune system cannot fight off infections. The humane society says these cruel treatments may play a role in the emergents of animal related viruses. These factory farms pose risks to the environment, animal welfare,and public health.We have to give these animals more breathing space, all animals including animals that are raised for food deserve humane treatment. Every year in the US alone over 400 billion animals are farmed and slaughtered for human consumption. Now what if the table turned, and every year over 400 billion humans are farmed and slaughtered for animal consumption. It's logically possible and frighteningly it's also casually possible.
Professor Triff, coming up with a response different to what the students have already posted is difficult, especially since most have chosen to follow in your footsteps as to say “no factory is wrong, killing animals is wrong, but a humane way of killing is ok” Which I don’t disagree with, but I don’t believe we need to be vegetarians to live in an ideal world, because a balance is all that’s needed. Eat but with control. I personally like what some countries are doing. I believe it is in Europe where they are regulating a maximum stocking density of how many chickens, cows, pigs a company is allowed to own. This will raise prices in meats, raise quality in the food, and give further respects as a whole to animals. What Vegetarians need to understand (from my point of view) is that this world has always had a food chain. Whether herbivores eat plants or a carnivore eats meat, there is always one who dies and one who gets stronger …and then dies by their coming predator. It’s the cycle of life. It’s Yin and Yang, if you life, you will die. What Triff argues is that we abuse our ability to dominate what’s on Earth and do more than we morally should. Being a vegetarian is a way of life, my blessings to you if you chose this path. Now for the meat eaters, it’s not whether you eat meat or not but how much you eat. The nutrients in meat is required in our body but it doesn’t mean that one should eat excessively just because it tastes delicious. Be conscious of what is entering your mouth and thank God, or Nature or the very animal who is now being consumed by you. You are no longer hungry, you may yet live to see another day because you ate, now pay respects because you never know if you’re the next to be in a car crash and people decide it’s best if you’re put to sleep so your organs can be used for experiments.
On another note, Flavie, I don't agree with some of your standings as you can see in my answer above.
But I'd like to answer more specifically towards your response.
Why are human beings trying to humanize their animals/pets? etc...
I see this point of view as racist. It's extreme...I know, but hear me out.
Can you blame a little girl if all she wants is to bond and connect ever more with her little puppy?
Or what if this Poor man, coming home from work, with no one else to care for him but his companion, a dog. Where all his income goes towards the food for the two of them?
These are the people who are giving yet another life to animals.
The dog which I've adopted, I don't do much with him I'll be honest but I took him from a family that would send him to one of those Dog Pounds. If no one adopts him, he would be put to sleep by the end of 3 months. Yet I gave him a chance to live further and have new experiences.
No i don't dress him up, yes he stays at home all day until I walk him for 15-20mins and he enjoys the backyard when he wants.
Is this another form of cruelty? Because I saved the life of a dog?
How many dogs are put to sleep, how many cats? Mice, snakes, hamsters, birds....
Society, although they might be taking in a dog as a "pet", they are at least giving them a life to live. How many other animals would SO beg for this treatment.
I'd say stop judging those who wish to decorate their pets, friends, lovers, family.
It's just like mothers dressing up their children.
I don't even want to get on a Vegetarian/Carnivore discussion. It's just a way of life.
You made some extremely interesting comments about my post and I would like to discuss them with you. But before I do that, I thought I should give you the definition of the word "racist" since you used it to label my comment. After you think and understand the meaning and the correct use of it, we can discuss my post.
According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary: Main Entry: rac·ism Pronunciation: \ˈrā-ˌsi-zəm also -ˌshi-\ Function: noun Date: 1933 1 : a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race 2 : racial prejudice or discrimination
Every species has to live, consume, and survive in order to live their lives, but in today’s society nonhumans strive more for their survival. Natural selection is pretty much in our hands with nonhumans since we are a superior species with greater access in exterminating other living things. Nonhumans are faced with cruelty, such as factory farming and getting products tested on them. Morally this abuse to animals is plain out brutal and scientifically it is not right because the product can react differently on a human then when it was tested on the animal. For example, a contraceptive called Tamoxifen was once developed which was tested on rats (leolupus). It worked as intended, and was given to humans (2). However, it had the opposite effect on women, actually increasing their fertility! (3) The way in which we treat animals is important for both: us, the humans, and them, the nonhumans. In my opinion, the way we treat animals is significant to our own morality. Just because we are the dominant race does not mean we can do as we please, we have to have some sort of respect toward our subordinates. If we were to raise our farm animals in an organic way, not in the factory farm method, we respect the animal and in return we get a healthy food product with fewer risks of animal diseases (most recently swine flu). Many people, especially the ones who own these factory farms, ridicule the idea of ethical treatment towards animals by saying that there are many other things to worry about in the world , but animal cruelty is very important too.
leolupus. October 2009. Yahoo Answers. http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090929103559AA2wNqn
LoL I'm not sure what I was thinking at the moment Flavie, honestly. It was 2am my time (blog says 10pm) and I'm re-reading my comment about what you said being racist but I can't make a link to what i was thinking.
Perhaps racist against human beings themselves and not animals (dogs/cats etc) because of you being offended by the way people try to humanize their pets (shoes, hats, costumes) when i'm sure people don't view it your way but more of a way that they dress up their child, their beloved friend. ??? Maybe
But, discuss about ? Anyway, this topic, I'm sure we agree on a general term, since it's very wide and varies in a case by case scenario.
On the other hand, what do people think on the idea of brain transplant? You would need a live donor in order to make this possible (i would assume). Ethical?
I strongly believe that the practice of animal cruelty is immoral and corrupt. I completely agree with the Peter Singer’s argument that animals have the capacity to feel pain. Who are we to control the lives of innocent animals just for the sake of survival? Therefore, I am totally for kosher foods. It is both healthier for the animals we eat and for ourselves. In addition cruel animal actions, for example chicken fighting, are considered illegal in most countries because they are held solely for the purpose of entertainment but in fact it is dishonorable. Similarly, factory farming should also be illegal because it puts animals in dangerous circumstances that lead to sick and abnormal lives. Since they are existing animals they have the capability to feel both pain and pleasure. Just because the animals cannot exchange a few words about their emotions doesn’t give us humans the right to overpower them.
I believe that we all know that what farmers are doing with the animals we end up eating is wrong, but in our minds we cannot find a solution to do otherwise, therefore, we create justifications that help us deal with this. What we need is alternative methods and people caring about something more than money. There is nothing wrong with change and with fighting for what we know is wrong, and still is happening. It is difficult to go against population growth, but we can do our part by making an effort to change our diet and become informed on the food choices we buy. Society needs to be educated on factory farming and animal cruelty and the alternative farm methods available… from the grocery to the restaurants. Also, we can make the government see the importance of having a really healthy food choice out there. Regulations on cruel methods should be enforced. Tobacco companies receive a substantial amount of money from the government, meaning from us, to grow something that kills millions of people every year. Don’t you think that we can use some of that money to produce better food quality? That would lower the price on fruits and vegetables, opening an opportunity for less economically fortunate of our population to reach healthier sources of food.
What are we really eating? As time goes by, what we eat is not really meat. To the unknown, it seems like meat, it taste like meat, so it must be meat. In actuality we are just eating meat that has been injected with so many hormones, that we’ve adapted to the idea that what we eat is real, when in reality it’s not. I believe in animal right. Just because an animal doesn’t have a voice for itself to speak out doesn’t mean anything. It still feels the pain that it endures for it short lived life. The cheapest way isn’t always the best way. On day the way we treat these animals like there nothing, will come back to haunt us. We might not feel the consequences of our actions now but we will in the future. Everything in this world should have some type of right. Just because we are supieor beings, does not mean we should be taking advantage of it. I know that the meat we eat isn’t the best thing in the world, but are we going to do anything about it? No, because as long as it doesn’t affect us and our pockets. Why should we care about animal rights? We as human being are selfish. Animals will never get the right they deserve. All we can do is think, what am I really eating ?
I am a strong advocate for the humane treatment of animals, and obviously completely against factory farming. I find it appalling and savage-like how humans treat these poor, and helpless animals for the mere notion of producing large amounts of food for the lowest price possible. Do theses people not have compassion? Morals? Forget about any form of sensitivity, don’t these people have any kind of “in the long-run” mentality? The reason these animals are treated so inhumanely is because the production is being rushed. I completely understand we need “food” but in the long-run it would benefit both the animal and the consumer if a little more time was spent in the process of production. By giving the animals the slightest bit of dignity, we could obviously avoid the many health crisis’ stemming from their poor treatment such as: swine flu and hoof-and-mouth disease among others.
I agree with Peter Singer—animals can feel pain, if they couldn’t what would be the use of veterinarians? Animals, domesticated or not they hurt, they cry, they feel. I can see it with my own eyes in the behavior and reaction of my dog, or cat when it’s sick or even when I had my horses. Animals are amazing creatures and I think they deserve a lot more than the way the industry is currently treating them. Furthermore, I believe there is always alternatives and solutions and I feel that if the industry stopped for a minute and thought about it they could come up with something. There is just absolutely no excuse for this cruelty.
There are so many great points on here in relation to my view on the subject. For example, what Amie said about dog fighting--it's illegal obviously because it's cruelty to the animal. They raise these dogs, for the sole purpose of putting them to fight...for what? money? it's really pathetic the world we live in.
On the other hand we have puppy mills, which like factory farming is completely LEGAL. They over breed these animals, keep them in deplorable conditions, malnourish and pretty much confine them to a 2x2 foot cell and turn around and stick them behind a glass to be sold at your local pet shop. What your "buying" is an animal who has had no socialization, is malnourished and probably in bad health conditions.
I have been reading other post and must people seem to agree that animal farming is morally wrong. And in fact, I agree with them but then the question is: Let’s suppose that I own a factory farming, and I do not make any profit out of it. Instead, those chickens I send them to Africa where with that meat, I can keep alive must of the children population. By conventional farming I wouldn’t be able to give food to those kids because they survival depends only in the short time I can grow chickens. So, in this particular situation, I think, there is an ethical paradox, the solution to it involves choosing the greater good and lesser evil. So, if I wouldn’t get any profit, instead I would be able to save thousands of children’s life. Would I be that morally wrong? Would factory farming would be that ethically wrong?
I do not plan to advocate factory farming or being purposely cruel to animals. I do however believe there is plenty of reason’s factory farming is perfectly suitable for our situation. Although the methods have in recent years become cruel, the idea of which it is based on is the important factor. The mass production of animals such as chickens, pigs, cows, and turkeys is because of the food system in America. Food that is made to support the lower-middle and lower class citizens is responsible for support for most of the country we live in. The environment they are kept on is beyond harsh and that needs correcting. The fact these animals are free to such obvious crimes is just plain wrong. Animals deserve rights but only on a simple level. The obvious anti-cruelty laws should be enforced a little harder. The simple way is to have the FDA make regularly scheduled visits to these farms. -James Roden
Thank you very much for teaching Augusto a new word, but I still don't think that word should be used in respect to what I wrote on my post. It does not make any sense to me.
I believe and agree with Peter Singer that animal does feel pain. The world around us or better say some people say those animals are animal and that they don’t feel pain but the truth is that they do. For example, if you hit a dog and start beating on them, they will start crying. Obviously, they don’t cry like us but they will make some noise that represents their pain. Animal should not be mistreated and should be taken care with compaction. Animal deserve right just like us. Yet, some people say “but for what animal are going to have right if there not human? “. What some people don’t understand is that even though animals are not humans, they can see, feel, walk, eat etc. They have some of the things human have. I believe that animals should be treated with care. Not just because they are not a significant things, doesn’t mean go ahead and treat them bad. Am against the practices of factory farming and animal cruelty which is very wrong and crucial. Animal can’t defend themselves from the cruelty and immortal behavior of humans. We need to stop the factory farming and let animal live and not be mistreated.
"Animal Rights, also referred as Animal Liberation,is the idea that the most basic interests of animals should be afforded the same consideration as the similar interests of humans" according to Wikipedia. First, animals should have rights. I believe that animals shouldn't be used for food, clothing, research subjects, or entertainment. Although, it is still done, I believe that there are people in the world, which strongly believe that animals should have rights, and that animal cruelty has to stop in all levels possible.
In my personal opinion, I love to eat meat, chicken, pork, and I can't think about a day without them, but people should be more concious of the consequences of injecting the animals with hormones, in order to serve a whole food industry. People should be more conscious that factory farming is not the way to produce food, people should also be concious that because animals do not have the same level of intelligence that humans have, they do feel, they feel pain, and some even have emotions. This is just unfair, I do not think that animals should be mistreated and used in research purpose, and I am totally against factory farming and the way it is being done.
Important fact, there has been more than 25 horses killed in the Miami-Dade County area. These horses have being killed and cut into pieces in order to sell the meat in the black market. It is happening.
Are we taking the right kind of vitamins and proteins that we need in our bodies? Are we being aware and cautious of what goes into our bodies when we eat? If not aware of what our chickens, pigs, turkeys and cows are made up let me show you. Everyday about 6 million chickens are being artificially employed to antimicrobial agents, vitamin supplements, and growth hormones. Is this what we really want our kids to be eating? I am a strong opponent to factory farming. I believe it’s unethical. Furthermore I disagree with animal cruelty; I believe that animals have as much rights as we humans have to live a respectable life. I believe that letting an animal live life in a pleasant environment where they don’t have to be inprisinated would in the long run a good choice for us. In Conclusion, I would reconsider what is good for myself and family.
I Julian Mark Cano hereby argue for a more Preferential Utilitarian approach to animal farming for the following reasons: animals should not be free, animals feel pain, thus it would be better to farm under a utilitarian farming. The cornerstones of civilization are farming and domestication. As such domestication is needed in any society today for the advancement of the population of the human species. Animals do feel pain. In order to find proof of this you must know the major symptom of pain, avoidance. Whenever a living species purposefully reacts greatly to an action and avoids that action at great cost it is trying to survive in order to pass on its genes, it is trying to "avoid" the pain, if it were to not avoid this action and it dies then what it was trying to avoid was pain. Furthermore according to a usanews article dated March 27, 2009 states a Queens University research project that crabs feel pain and even "retain a memory of it". Lastly if the animals must be domesticated or farmed the least we can do is farm them under a utilitarian farming system so as to cause as least necessary pain as possible. Next time someone states animals "don't feel pain" they should realize that they are animals as well and like our fellow animal brethens have been designed to feel pain in order to survive deadly situations and they have just as good as a limbic or nervous system as us or possibly they should just look into the dieing eyes of a dog pleading for its rescue after being squashed by nine consecutive wheels of an 18-wheeler off of the interstate.
Imagine being in the shoes of an animal; being able to express your feelings but humans not really understanding what’s going on in your mind. I’m not a big fan of animals but I do believe in animal rights. It’s sad to see how the animals are being treated in the factory farming and ridiculous to know how many of these animals are being killed every day. I’m not suggesting that there should be a certain way that animals should be killing or they should be killed with more care but I’m saying that animals we people should think about the animals and what they go through. Animals should be treated the way they want to be treated and I believe that all animal needs are love and care. So therefore animal rights should be taken under consideration from people more; I believe we should show more care and love towards them
27 comments:
I reject factory farming and animal cruelty in every sense of the word because it’s just another dark form of discrimination. Racist look down on those based on their skin color and background, sexiest do the same to woman based on their gender, heterosexist deny basic rights to lesbians, gay, or transgender based all together on sexual orientation. Speciesists follow the same path based only on species. Although Peter Singer rejects speciesism, he reminds everyone that because nonhumans don’t have the same minds as we humans do, they don’t possess the same interest of continuing to live and we wouldn’t be harming them if we kill them “humanely,” also “Humans are forward-looking beings, and they have hopes and desires for their future. That seems a plausible answer to the question of why it’s so tragic when humans die.” I find that too, a form of speciesism. I am against factory farming and for animal rights because simply by treating animals better we get a lot more from it, and by farming animals in a legit, healthy way we improve the quality of life of both sides in MANY ways.
To know what we get out of Factory farming and the side effects go to the following link.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Factory_farming
(I am in favor of animal rights and against factory farming).
If we had five days to live wouldn’t we want to make them the best days of our life? Then why not treat these poor animals fairly. I mean either way we are going to eat them. What makes us different from the animals we eat? Imagine your last days being hung from the roof and beaten with a bat. How bout stuck in a room with six billion other people being injected with medicine and hormones. Would you be able to breathe? Your going to die anyway right so who cares.
I agree with Peter Singer in the sense that animals have the ability to feel pain. I understand that in the U.S the demand for food is extremely high, however; that is no valid reason for abusing animals. “The large concentration of animals, animal waste, and the potential for dead animals in a small space poses ethical issues.” This is what drives the diseases that evolve from animals. “Artificial methods are employed to maintain animal health and improve production, such as the use of antimicrobial agents, vitamin supplements, and growth hormones.” This is basically what we are eating. On the other hand, if we were to raise animals without artificial methods we would be receiving all their nutrients. In the end, treating these animals fairly would benefit both them and us as a society. We would be eating healthier food and the animals would enjoy their last days.
Lissvett Vergara
I believe that the practice of treating animals any kind of way is unethical and in just. I tend to side with philosopher Peter Singer in his argument that animals deserve rights because of their ability to feel pain. The fact that they are living creatures who can feel pain means that they know what it’s like to experience pleasure. Why should they be held from living a pleasant life and why are we humans deciding for them how they live? Just because they can’t communicate their feelings and because we are able to overpower them doesn’t give us the right to. The reason why certain animal activities, such as dog fighting, is illegal is because it’s harmful to the animals involved and it’s inhumane. If this is the case, factory farming should not be allowed because it not only puts animals in unsafe situations, but they live an unhealthy and unnatural life. I would prefer a free range and natural chicken because its quality would be higher and the health hazards against me would be fewer. The reason why factory farming is highly acceptable in the U.S is because of its inexpensiveness and our high demand on animal products, though this is not a sufficient enough reason to treat animals like a piece of property.
-Amie Armbrister
I am a strong proponent of animal rights and I firmly stand against the practices of factory farming and animal cruelty for I believe that animals inherently deserve this level of respect. I agree with Singer’s justification for animal rights in that their necessity is based on an animal’s capacity to feel pain. Since we define truth as a “justified true belief that provides the best explanation for the justifying evidence,” it seems logical to accept that when we observe animals to be acting in a way that corresponds to our own pain behavior, that they are indeed experiencing pain. Furthermore, I disagree with Scruton’s counterargument that animal’s cannot have rights as a consequence of a lack of obligations because this statement generalizes responsibility. To illustrate this point, consider the idea that responsibility may come in proportion to cognitive ability. For instance, the Spanish parliament has actually granted some human rights to certain chimpanzees.* It is too be noted that they have been granted some rights, not all, showing a kind of proportion system followed. Humans have more responsibility than, say, a chicken, because of their greater mental ability. However, animals clearly possess more cognitive ability than plants, for instance, and I believe they have the right to a dignified life.
*http://features.csmonitor.com/environment/2008/06/27/spain-to-grant-some-human-rights-to-apes/
Maria Zilberman
I'm opposed to factory farming because I find it sickening and wrong. I’m no expert but it’s a matter of time one of these chickens comes up with some new virus caused by all theses hormones and antibiotics. The U.S. is obese and these factories are feeding the frenzy. Meanwhile the factories main concern is profit not safety or health. Health should be our main concern and these practices can only lead to harmful outcomes. I am 100% in favor of organic farming it gives the livestock the freedom of a real life and in the end we eat healthier. Factory farming is inhuman; to be kept in 2 by 7 crates and bundled up with no room to move is completely wrong. Almost reminds me of slavery the way the Africans where brought here in ships packed to the brim. Like with everything in time more people will become aware and demand what’s right. Its simple good practices bring about good results.
William Sanchez
"God loved the birds and invented trees. Man loved the birds and invented cages". Jacques Deval, Afin de vivre bel et bien.
I believe that in an ideal world human beings would be vegetarians, that way problems like factory farming, slaughterhouses and other cruelties that the so called "homo sapiens" commit against animals, would all be avoided.
With that being said and knowing that we do not live in an ideal world, we need to realize that the way we are breeding animals for food is a total threat to our planet.It pollutes our environment while consuming huge amounts of water, grain, pesticides and drugs. I believe that most people who eat meat simply choose not to think about all the process involved into converting a living animal to meat on their daily diet.
Not to mention the way they raise, breed and kill the inoccent animals that later on, you are all going to see on your plates. By switching to a vegetarian diet,our society would be able to elimate the needless suffering and deaths of countless animals. By raising and eating meat leaves behind an environmental toll that future generations will be forced to pay.
I believe we should treat the animals the same way we would wished to be treated, if they were to be in our dominant position.
We need to understand that animals are not ours to use for food, clothing, entertainment, experimentation, or any other reason.
I agree and support the philosopher Peter Singer's argument that animals deserve rights because of their ability to feel pain. Of course that would not be the only reason why animals deserve rights and those rights should be protected and enforced, but definitely the argument of them being able to feel pain is a very strong one.
Besides talking about factory farming, animal cruelty, vegetarianism, animal rights, I would also like to leave something else for everyone to think about: Why are human beings trying to humanize their animals/pets? Who ever said that puppies like to walk in shoes, or wear bowls in the head, or even worse, to stay locked up in a tiny apartment all day waiting for the selfish owner to come home tired from work and give this poor lonely pet 10 minutes of his attention?
To me it is just another form of cruelty.
Flavia Merschmann
Flavia, wonderful introduction as well as your whole general discussion- Very well said. We are animals, we feel pain, we get uncomfortable in clustered space, we'll squeal and cry when we are in danger.Not only is factory farming unethical, but what are we really getting out of such means to provide food? This same crucial method to feed the nation was the same method to bring SWINE FLU to the table.Some scientists say that inhumane factory farming helped caused the outbreak. The humane society of the united states says that pigs are forced into tiny cages and are even unable to turn around. It's so stressful on the animals that their immune system cannot fight off infections. The humane society says these cruel treatments may play a role in the emergents of animal related viruses. These factory farms pose risks to the environment, animal welfare,and public health.We have to give these animals more breathing space, all animals including animals that are raised for food deserve humane treatment. Every year in the US alone over 400 billion animals are farmed and slaughtered for human consumption. Now what if the table turned, and every year over 400 billion humans are farmed and slaughtered for animal consumption. It's logically possible and frighteningly it's also casually possible.
Professor Triff, coming up with a response different to what the students have already posted is difficult, especially since most have chosen to follow in your footsteps as to say “no factory is wrong, killing animals is wrong, but a humane way of killing is ok”
Which I don’t disagree with, but I don’t believe we need to be vegetarians to live in an ideal world, because a balance is all that’s needed. Eat but with control.
I personally like what some countries are doing. I believe it is in Europe where they are regulating a maximum stocking density of how many chickens, cows, pigs a company is allowed to own. This will raise prices in meats, raise quality in the food, and give further respects as a whole to animals.
What Vegetarians need to understand (from my point of view) is that this world has always had a food chain. Whether herbivores eat plants or a carnivore eats meat, there is always one who dies and one who gets stronger …and then dies by their coming predator. It’s the cycle of life. It’s Yin and Yang, if you life, you will die.
What Triff argues is that we abuse our ability to dominate what’s on Earth and do more than we morally should. Being a vegetarian is a way of life, my blessings to you if you chose this path.
Now for the meat eaters, it’s not whether you eat meat or not but how much you eat. The nutrients in meat is required in our body but it doesn’t mean that one should eat excessively just because it tastes delicious. Be conscious of what is entering your mouth and thank God, or Nature or the very animal who is now being consumed by you.
You are no longer hungry, you may yet live to see another day because you ate, now pay respects because you never know if you’re the next to be in a car crash and people decide it’s best if you’re put to sleep so your organs can be used for experiments.
On another note, Flavie, I don't agree with some of your standings as you can see in my answer above.
But I'd like to answer more specifically towards your response.
Why are human beings trying to humanize their animals/pets? etc...
I see this point of view as racist. It's extreme...I know, but hear me out.
Can you blame a little girl if all she wants is to bond and connect ever more with her little puppy?
Or what if this Poor man, coming home from work, with no one else to care for him but his companion, a dog. Where all his income goes towards the food for the two of them?
These are the people who are giving yet another life to animals.
The dog which I've adopted, I don't do much with him I'll be honest but I took him from a family that would send him to one of those Dog Pounds. If no one adopts him, he would be put to sleep by the end of 3 months. Yet I gave him a chance to live further and have new experiences.
No i don't dress him up, yes he stays at home all day until I walk him for 15-20mins and he enjoys the backyard when he wants.
Is this another form of cruelty? Because I saved the life of a dog?
How many dogs are put to sleep, how many cats? Mice, snakes, hamsters, birds....
Society, although they might be taking in a dog as a "pet", they are at least giving them a life to live. How many other animals would SO beg for this treatment.
I'd say stop judging those who wish to decorate their pets, friends, lovers, family.
It's just like mothers dressing up their children.
I don't even want to get on a Vegetarian/Carnivore discussion. It's just a way of life.
My dear Augusto,
You made some extremely interesting comments about my post and I would like to discuss them with you. But before I do that, I thought I should give you the definition of the word "racist" since you used it to label my comment. After you think and understand the meaning and the correct use of it, we can discuss my post.
According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
Main Entry: rac·ism
Pronunciation: \ˈrā-ˌsi-zəm also -ˌshi-\
Function: noun
Date: 1933
1 : a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race
2 : racial prejudice or discrimination
Thank you, Augusto.
Flavia Merschmann
Every species has to live, consume, and survive in order to live their lives, but in today’s society nonhumans strive more for their survival. Natural selection is pretty much in our hands with nonhumans since we are a superior species with greater access in exterminating other living things. Nonhumans are faced with cruelty, such as factory farming and getting products tested on them. Morally this abuse to animals is plain out brutal and scientifically it is not right because the product can react differently on a human then when it was tested on the animal. For example, a contraceptive called Tamoxifen was once developed which was tested on rats (leolupus). It worked as intended, and was given to humans (2). However, it had the opposite effect on women, actually increasing their fertility! (3) The way in which we treat animals is important for both: us, the humans, and them, the nonhumans. In my opinion, the way we treat animals is significant to our own morality. Just because we are the dominant race does not mean we can do as we please, we have to have some sort of respect toward our subordinates. If we were to raise our farm animals in an organic way, not in the factory farm method, we respect the animal and in return we get a healthy food product with fewer risks of animal diseases (most recently swine flu). Many people, especially the ones who own these factory farms, ridicule the idea of ethical treatment towards animals by saying that there are many other things to worry about in the world , but animal cruelty is very important too.
leolupus. October 2009. Yahoo Answers. http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090929103559AA2wNqn
Nicole Bonifaz
LoL I'm not sure what I was thinking at the moment Flavie, honestly. It was 2am my time (blog says 10pm) and I'm re-reading my comment about what you said being racist but I can't make a link to what i was thinking.
Perhaps racist against human beings themselves and not animals (dogs/cats etc) because of you being offended by the way people try to humanize their pets (shoes, hats, costumes) when i'm sure people don't view it your way but more of a way that they dress up their child, their beloved friend.
??? Maybe
But, discuss about ? Anyway, this topic, I'm sure we agree on a general term, since it's very wide and varies in a case by case scenario.
On the other hand, what do people think on the idea of brain transplant? You would need a live donor in order to make this possible (i would assume). Ethical?
I strongly believe that the practice of animal cruelty is immoral and corrupt. I completely agree with the Peter Singer’s argument that animals have the capacity to feel pain. Who are we to control the lives of innocent animals just for the sake of survival? Therefore, I am totally for kosher foods. It is both healthier for the animals we eat and for ourselves. In addition cruel animal actions, for example chicken fighting, are considered illegal in most countries because they are held solely for the purpose of entertainment but in fact it is dishonorable. Similarly, factory farming should also be illegal because it puts animals in dangerous circumstances that lead to sick and abnormal lives. Since they are existing animals they have the capability to feel both pain and pleasure. Just because the animals cannot exchange a few words about their emotions doesn’t give us humans the right to overpower them.
-Nohelany Burey
I believe that we all know that what farmers are doing with the animals we end up eating is wrong, but in our minds we cannot find a solution to do otherwise, therefore, we create justifications that help us deal with this. What we need is alternative methods and people caring about something more than money.
There is nothing wrong with change and with fighting for what we know is wrong, and still is happening.
It is difficult to go against population growth, but we can do our part by making an effort to change our diet and become informed on the food choices we buy. Society needs to be educated on factory farming and animal cruelty and the alternative farm methods available… from the grocery to the restaurants. Also, we can make the government see the importance of having a really healthy food choice out there. Regulations on cruel methods should be enforced. Tobacco companies receive a substantial amount of money from the government, meaning from us, to grow something that kills millions of people every year. Don’t you think that we can use some of that money to produce better food quality? That would lower the price on fruits and vegetables, opening an opportunity for less economically fortunate of our population to reach healthier sources of food.
Reinaldo Montoto
What are we really eating? As time goes by, what we eat is not really meat. To the unknown, it seems like meat, it taste like meat, so it must be meat. In actuality we are just eating meat that has been injected with so many hormones, that we’ve adapted to the idea that what we eat is real, when in reality it’s not.
I believe in animal right. Just because an animal doesn’t have a voice for itself to speak out doesn’t mean anything. It still feels the pain that it endures for it short lived life. The cheapest way isn’t always the best way. On day the way we treat these animals like there nothing, will come back to haunt us. We might not feel the consequences of our actions now but we will in the future. Everything in this world should have some type of right. Just because we are supieor beings, does not mean we should be taking advantage of it.
I know that the meat we eat isn’t the best thing in the world, but are we going to do anything about it? No, because as long as it doesn’t affect us and our pockets. Why should we care about animal rights? We as human being are selfish. Animals will never get the right they deserve. All we can do is think, what am I really eating ?
Charline Neptune
Agusto: "Racism" against animals? Perhaps it's better to use "specieism"?
I am a strong advocate for the humane treatment of animals, and obviously completely against factory farming. I find it appalling and savage-like how humans treat these poor, and helpless animals for the mere notion of producing large amounts of food for the lowest price possible. Do theses people not have compassion? Morals? Forget about any form of sensitivity, don’t these people have any kind of “in the long-run” mentality? The reason these animals are treated so inhumanely is because the production is being rushed. I completely understand we need “food” but in the long-run it would benefit both the animal and the consumer if a little more time was spent in the process of production. By giving the animals the slightest bit of dignity, we could obviously avoid the many health crisis’ stemming from their poor treatment such as: swine flu and hoof-and-mouth disease among others.
I agree with Peter Singer—animals can feel pain, if they couldn’t what would be the use of veterinarians? Animals, domesticated or not they hurt, they cry, they feel. I can see it with my own eyes in the behavior and reaction of my dog, or cat when it’s sick or even when I had my horses. Animals are amazing creatures and I think they deserve a lot more than the way the industry is currently treating them. Furthermore, I believe there is always alternatives and solutions and I feel that if the industry stopped for a minute and thought about it they could come up with something. There is just absolutely no excuse for this cruelty.
Kristen Suarez
There are so many great points on here in relation to my view on the subject. For example, what Amie said about dog fighting--it's illegal obviously because it's cruelty to the animal. They raise these dogs, for the sole purpose of putting them to fight...for what? money? it's really pathetic the world we live in.
On the other hand we have puppy mills, which like factory farming is completely LEGAL. They over breed these animals, keep them in deplorable conditions, malnourish and pretty much confine them to a 2x2 foot cell and turn around and stick them behind a glass to be sold at your local pet shop. What your "buying" is an animal who has had no socialization, is malnourished and probably in bad health conditions.
It’s just, ah, so frustrating!!
That works professor Trif. I hadn't used that word in context for a while, guess I forgot.
Thanks
I have been reading other post and must people seem to agree that animal farming is morally wrong. And in fact, I agree with them but then the question is: Let’s suppose that I own a factory farming, and I do not make any profit out of it. Instead, those chickens I send them to Africa where with that meat, I can keep alive must of the children population. By conventional farming I wouldn’t be able to give food to those kids because they survival depends only in the short time I can grow chickens. So, in this particular situation, I think, there is an ethical paradox, the solution to it involves choosing the greater good and lesser evil. So, if I wouldn’t get any profit, instead I would be able to save thousands of children’s life. Would I be that morally wrong? Would factory farming would be that ethically wrong?
I do not plan to advocate factory farming or being purposely cruel to animals. I do however believe there is plenty of reason’s factory farming is perfectly suitable for our situation. Although the methods have in recent years become cruel, the idea of which it is based on is the important factor. The mass production of animals such as chickens, pigs, cows, and turkeys is because of the food system in America. Food that is made to support the lower-middle and lower class citizens is responsible for support for most of the country we live in. The environment they are kept on is beyond harsh and that needs correcting. The fact these animals are free to such obvious crimes is just plain wrong. Animals deserve rights but only on a simple level. The obvious anti-cruelty laws should be enforced a little harder. The simple way is to have the FDA make regularly scheduled visits to these farms.
-James Roden
Dear Prof. Triff,
Thank you very much for teaching Augusto a new word, but I still don't think that word should be used in respect to what I wrote on my post. It does not make any sense to me.
Flavia Merschmann
I believe and agree with Peter Singer that animal does feel pain. The world around us or better say some people say those animals are animal and that they don’t feel pain but the truth is that they do. For example, if you hit a dog and start beating on them, they will start crying. Obviously, they don’t cry like us but they will make some noise that represents their pain. Animal should not be mistreated and should be taken care with compaction. Animal deserve right just like us. Yet, some people say “but for what animal are going to have right if there not human? “. What some people don’t understand is that even though animals are not humans, they can see, feel, walk, eat etc. They have some of the things human have. I believe that animals should be treated with care. Not just because they are not a significant things, doesn’t mean go ahead and treat them bad. Am against the practices of factory farming and animal cruelty which is very wrong and crucial. Animal can’t defend themselves from the cruelty and immortal behavior of humans. We need to stop the factory farming and let animal live and not be mistreated.
Brenda CHirino
MWF 9:00
"Animal Rights, also referred as Animal Liberation,is the idea that the most basic interests of animals should be afforded the same consideration as the similar interests of humans" according to Wikipedia. First, animals should have rights. I believe that animals shouldn't be used for food, clothing, research subjects, or entertainment. Although, it is still done, I believe that there are people in the world, which strongly believe that animals should have rights, and that animal cruelty has to stop in all levels possible.
In my personal opinion, I love to eat meat, chicken, pork, and I can't think about a day without them, but people should be more concious of the consequences of injecting the animals with hormones, in order to serve a whole food industry. People should be more conscious that factory farming is not the way to produce food, people should also be concious that because animals do not have the same level of intelligence that humans have, they do feel, they feel pain, and some even have emotions. This is just unfair, I do not think that animals should be mistreated and used in research purpose, and I am totally against factory farming and the way it is being done.
Important fact, there has been more than 25 horses killed in the Miami-Dade County area. These horses have being killed and cut into pieces in order to sell the meat in the black market. It is happening.
Are we taking the right kind of vitamins and proteins that we need in our bodies? Are we being aware and cautious of what goes into our bodies when we eat? If not aware of what our chickens, pigs, turkeys and cows are made up let me show you. Everyday about 6 million chickens are being artificially employed to antimicrobial agents, vitamin supplements, and growth hormones. Is this what we really want our kids to be eating? I am a strong opponent to factory farming. I believe it’s unethical. Furthermore I disagree with animal cruelty; I believe that animals have as much rights as we humans have to live a respectable life. I believe that letting an animal live life in a pleasant environment where they don’t have to be inprisinated would in the long run a good choice for us. In Conclusion, I would reconsider what is good for myself and family.
I Julian Mark Cano hereby argue for a more Preferential Utilitarian approach to animal farming for the following reasons: animals should not be free, animals feel pain, thus it would be better to farm under a utilitarian farming. The cornerstones of civilization are farming and domestication. As such domestication is needed in any society today for the advancement of the population of the human species. Animals do feel pain. In order to find proof of this you must know the major symptom of pain, avoidance. Whenever a living species purposefully reacts greatly to an action and avoids that action at great cost it is trying to survive in order to pass on its genes, it is trying to "avoid" the pain, if it were to not avoid this action and it dies then what it was trying to avoid was pain. Furthermore according to a usanews article dated March 27, 2009 states a Queens University research project that crabs feel pain and even "retain a memory of it". Lastly if the animals must be domesticated or farmed the least we can do is farm them under a utilitarian farming system so as to cause as least necessary pain as possible. Next time someone states animals "don't feel pain" they should realize that they are animals as well and like our fellow animal brethens have been designed to feel pain in order to survive deadly situations and they have just as good as a limbic or nervous system as us or possibly they should just look into the dieing eyes of a dog pleading for its rescue after being squashed by nine consecutive wheels of an 18-wheeler off of the interstate.
Imagine being in the shoes of an animal; being able to express your feelings but humans not really understanding what’s going on in your mind. I’m not a big fan of animals but I do believe in animal rights. It’s sad to see how the animals are being treated in the factory farming and ridiculous to know how many of these animals are being killed every day. I’m not suggesting that there should be a certain way that animals should be killing or they should be killed with more care but I’m saying that animals we people should think about the animals and what they go through. Animals should be treated the way they want to be treated and I believe that all animal needs are love and care. So therefore animal rights should be taken under consideration from people more; I believe we should show more care and love towards them
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