Philosophy Stack Exchange
Philosophy Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [animal-welfare]

38 questions
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9 answers

Do humans have an ethical obligation to prevent animal on animal violence?

Going by a purely utilitarian perspective with a goal to reduce pain, I would think humans should do that. What it would involve, maybe feeding lab grown meat to tigers, and separating habitats? And where do animal ethicists draw the line on such…
user2277550
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Why should almost extinct animals be protected from going extinct?

The feeling that it's "sad" if a species dies out seems to be coming from an aesthetic point of view how the world should be. But is there a rationality behind it? The only rational reason I was able to come up with is that more variety gives more…
Nikolaj-K
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Does the focus on "humane" killing of animals distract from the real moral problem of killing?

"Humane" in respect to killing animals means to minimize the animal's pain as they die. But this seems to completely sidestep the moral issue with killing, which has nothing to do with the pain. Given the choice: A. Suffer severe, intense pain for a…
causative
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Is absolute ethical veganism an irrational position?

I have a handful of friends who are strictly vegan, and I talked with each of them before about their views. At least 3 of them have said to me that under no circumstance would they eat an animal or use an animal product (say, for clothing). This is…
stoicfury
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What are some good books on the relationship between animals and human beings?

So, there are a number of things I am actually after with this, but to try to encapsulate the concern briefly: which thinkers or writers might comment on the relationship between animals and human beings? In particular, I am concerned about the…
Joseph Weissman
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Adequate Animal Housing and the Naturalistic Fallacy

Many animal rights activists claim that adequate animal housing should be geared towards the natural environment of animals. For example, they claim that monkeys should be not kept within human's houses because their natural environment is the…
Bob
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Philosophical justification for giving certain animals rights of a person?

There is a growing movement for the bestowing certain non-human species with legal rights of a person. What might be some of the most significant or important philosophical arguments in favor of such a policy? My understanding of the problem is that…
quant_dev
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Does moral aversion to dis-enhancing animals suggest insecurity in our current beliefs?

Specifically, does an aversion to genetic engineering suggest an insecurity of values regarding animal welfare? I ask because I am looking at the concept of using brainless chickens in the meat industry. By most conventional views of animal welfare,…
Matt-T
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Most recent introduction to academic debates to vegetarianism and veganism

What are the most recent and comprehensive academic books on vegetarianism, veganism, food ethics etc.? I am looking for something that would cover the main discussions in the field... something in the lines of "A very short introduction…
user24961
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moral value of dairy products?

Is the consumption of dairy products or eggs compatible with a) the theory of animal rights and b) equal consideration? Ad a) How can a right of ownership be defended, i.e. every animal is owner of her product, and what follows from it? How…
Frederike
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An excuse for not being a vegetarian

I recently found myself holding the following views, which seem to be in contradiction: It is morally wrong to kill a human being which wishes to live; in particular it is wrong to kill a baby or an elderly person or a person who wishes to live.…
Jakub Konieczny
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What is the meat paradox?

On the psychology of eating meat and the meat paradox: One question examined in the psychology of eating meat has been termed the meat paradox: how can individuals care about animals, but also eat them? Internal dissonance can be created if…
Agent Smith
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Are human lives always more important than animal lives?

Imagine a case: there is a fire in a house, there is a person and my pet dog and you only have enough time to save one. Which one should you should rescue? I think most people would choose the person. Consider another case: if I have a dog that is…
Gstestso
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How can we defend conservation on a species level?

Background Many conservation measures in environmental biology such as the IUCN red list or measures against invasive species are done on the level of species rather than on the level of individuals. Often, individuals of a invasive species are…
COOLSerdash
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Is the killing of animals justified because of humans being at the top of the evolution/food chain?

I recently argued with a friend about veganism. My position was basically that everyone who can allow a dietery change in their lives ought to be vegan. I argued that these days there are sufficient replacements for the nutrition provided by meat,…
SDZ
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