Utilitarianism and Animal Rights - 3174 Words

Animal Rights Throughout history morality has been a topic of intense debate. Innumerable thinkers have devoted immense amounts of time and energy to the formulation of various ethical theories intended to assist humans in their daily lives. These theories set out guidelines which help to determine the rightness or wrongness of any given action and can therefore illuminate which choice would be morally beneficial. And while many of these theories differ substantially, most have at least one common underlying principle, namely that humans deserve to be treated with a certain level of respect. This idea comes from the belief that all humans have interests which are significant enough to be considered, hence no one should impede another†¦show more content†¦It is strikingly obvious that both of these theories exhibit substantial differences in the way in which they determine morality. Utilitarians focus on pleasure and pain whereas Kant concentrates on absolute moral rules and human dignity . Yet how do these variations manifest themselves within the context of animal rights? I will first put forth the traditional Kantian argument regarding the status of animals. The Categorical Imperative makes a distinction between two types of individuals. Rational beings are referred to as persons while non-rational being are deemed things#. So while a rational being can never be used as a means, things exist almost solely for that purpose. From this point the implications concerning animals become clear. So far as animals are concerned, we have no direct duties. AnimalsÂ…are there merely as a means to an end. That end is man.# This viewpoint advanced by Kant is further expounded upon in his essay Our Duties to Animals. Here he explains that we have no direct duties to animals because they are not self-conscious, rational moral agents. Instead we have indirect duties to human beings in regards to animals. We should therefore not be cruel to animals because he who is cruel to an imals becomes hard also in his dealings with men.# According to Kant, we can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals.# Yet there are many difficultiesShow MoreRelatedAnimal Rights And Utilitarianism1063 Words   |  5 PagesAnimal Rights and Utilitarianism Peter Singer argues, in regard to animal rights, that equal beings with equal interests should be considered equally. Singer makes three claims about equality to support his position; equality is based on equal consideration, speciesism is unjustified, and the ability to feel pain makes one worthy of moral consideration. He believes equal interests deserve equal treatment, and guidelines for having interests concern sentience; the ability to experience suffering.Read MoreThe Ethical Argument For Veganism1685 Words   |  7 Pagesthe lens of philosophy using Utilitarianism defined by John Stuart Mill, and Deontological ethics according to Immanuel Kant. Through the use of these theories, I will justify the moral worth and legitimacy of the animal welfare debate that is often used to promote a cruelty-free and vegan lifestyle by analyzing questions of animal sentience, the worth of an animal’s happiness, and the right humanity supposedly has to the lives of other living creatur es. Utilitarianism and Deontological ethics willRead MoreThe Pros And Cons Of Utilitarianism954 Words   |  4 PagesThe Pros and Cons of Utilitarianism Utilitarianism is the ethical belief that the happiness of the greatest number of people is the greatest good. Jeremy Betham and John Stuart Mill are two philosophers that were leading advocates for the utilitarianism that we study today. In order to understand the basis of utilitarianism, one must know what happiness is. John Stuart Mill defines happiness as the intended pleasure and absence of pain while unhappiness is pain and the privation of pleasure. UtilitariansRead More`` On The Hunt : Killing, Eating, Respecting Wild Beast, By John Stuart Mill1581 Words   |  7 PagesIn the essay Utilitarianism, John Stuart Mill argues the purpose of morality is to create a better world as a whole, or to achieve utility. Mill defines utility as actions that promote happiness and pleasure, with the absence of pain and suffering and asserts that utilitarianism embodies this concept, as it is a moral theory that encourages and preaches actions that coincide with such ideals. John Stuart Mill ’s Utilitarianism relates to A New Environmental Ethics, authored by Holmes Rolston III,Read MoreUtilitarianism Essays : The Happiest And Pleasure Of The Most People Not Included The Personal Happiness1398 Words   |  6 PagesThe unsound of utilitarianism The utilitarianism theory is described as the happiest and pleasure of the most people not included the personal happiness. Jeremy Bentham believes there were two masters in this world that are pleasure and pain. On utilitarianism, we should reject pain and found a way to make more people happy no matter what the outcome. Utilitarianism is unsound because of events in history, life conflict, and animal cruelty that occurs in our everyday. All thru history, it has shownRead MoreAnimal Rights At Factory Farms1629 Words   |  7 PagesMadison Bowdish Dr. Brian Onishi PHIL 229 15 Dec 2016 Animal Rights in Factory Farms The idea that industrial farming is bad for the environment is well known, but what people do not think about is horrible practice of factory farms within industrial farming. Factory farms are inhumane and not only because the animal is being slaughtered, but because of the way the animals are treated before the are killed. A person would think that if they were to be innocently killed that they would want to beRead MoreThe utilitarianism theory holds that an action is moral if it produces the greatest amount of good1000 Words   |  4 PagesThe utilitarianism theory holds that an action is moral if it produces the greatest amount of good for the largest amount of people that are affected by the consequences of the action DeGeorge 44). Jeremy Bentham believed that one should measure the intensity, duration, certainty, remoteness, or purity and their opposites when evaluating for each person that is affected (DeGeorge 46). For example, a consequence that gives a more desirable qual ity like pleasure would be favored, just like if oneRead More Jeremy Bentham : Father of Utilitarianism Essay1444 Words   |  6 Pages Assess the merits of Utilitarianism (24 Marks) Utilitarianism is a theory aimed at defining one simple basis that can be applied when making any ethical decision. It is based on a human’s natural instinct to seek pleasure and avoid pain. Jeremy Bentham is widely regarded as the father of utilitarianism. He was born in 1748 into a family of lawyers and was himself, training to join the profession. During this process however, he became disillusioned by the state British law was in and set outRead MoreThe Ethical Theories Of Utilitarianism And Kantian Ethics Essay1650 Words   |  7 PagesIn this essay, I will be discussing an article about a woman who starved her two horses. I will address the issue about whether or not the woman’s action was ethical. I will use the two ethical theories of utilitarianism and Kantian ethics to support my argument. I will also suggest a different course of action the woman could have taken to be justified, through both ethical theories. The article follows the story about an Australian woman who breached her duty of care to two horses that she ownedRead MoreThe Doctrine Of Utilitarianism Essays883 Words   |  4 Pages The Doctrine of Utilitarianism Utilitarianism is a doctrine that revolves around two concepts: happiness and consequentialism. It follows the â€Å"Greatest Happiness Principle† which is, â€Å"The creed which accepts as the foundation of morals, Utility, or the Greatest Happiness Principle, holds that actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness† (Mill 239). Utilitarianists’ most vast idea is creating the greatest happiness for