Animal Welfare Flashcards
What does reciprocity mean?
Making sacrifices for another pay off. “I’ll scratch your back if..”
What is the thesis of De Waal’s paper?
The gap between humans and animals is not as large as we believe. There is a continuity between us and other species such as Chimps.
Devision of rewards, reciprocity, and cooperation are all examples of why…
Basic human economic tendencies are not limited to our species.
What is an example of reciprocity in chimpanzees?
After going on a hunt and dividing up the kill among the hunters, those who did not take part beg in vain for a share. The hunters enjoy having priority during the division of spoils.
What does it mean to say that chimpanzees have contingencies between favors given and received.
“I’ll scratch your back you scratch mine”. A sense of memory in who deserves the favor returned.
What is Respect of Possession as it pertains to De Waal’s view point?
Claiming another’s food by force is basically unheard of. More likely to are begging, whimpering, and whining.
What does Kin Selection explain?
Why we have altruism of our kin
What is the link between Singers first and second articles?
First he sets the guidelines for equality by establishing that having the capacity to have interests makes you equal to all others. The second goes into discussing animal liberation after establishing his views on equality.
The principle of equal consideration of interests says that…
An interest is an interest regardless of who’s it is. Factors such as sex, race, etc. are irrelevant.
What establishes which interest is more important?
Whichever is more severe. Not the person who’s interest it is.
What is the exception to the principle of equal considerations of interests?
Human beings who are not and have never been vicious and therefore have no interests to be considered.
What is Singer’s main point in his second article?
Animals have interests just as much as humans. The interest of animals have to be taken into account following the the principle of equal consideration of interests as well as humans
What is Singer’s reply to the objection that pain felt by humans is worse than that of a mouse?
This doesn’t change the idea that we give priority to whatever is suffering more. Inflicting the same amount of pain on both a human and an animal is equally wrong.
When can it be justified to kill an animal?
If hunting for food is your ONLY way to survive. Most humans could live healthy lifestyles with out animal consumption, however.
When can experimentation with animals be justified?
Only when equal consideration of interests is applied and it is absolutely necessary.
What is Singer’s reply to the objection of “how do we know that animals feel pain”?
Humans and animals have similar reactions to the same sources of pain. We assume that this is because they feel pain in a similar way. Also, we have similar nervous systems. Invertebrates however have different nervous systems making us less confidence in how they feel pain.
What would Singer’s reply be to the objection that “animals eat each other so why can’t we”?
Most animals who kill for food wouldn’t survive if they didn’t but most humans would. Animals also can’t consider alternative sources for food or reflect on the ethics of their diet.
What is the main thesis of Sagoff’s article?
He draws a distinction between animal liberation and environmentalism. He provides example for hoe each belief system feels about different issues.
What are the main differences Sagoff points out between environmentalism and animal liberation?
Environmentalists are concerned with the status of species while animal liberationists care about individual animals without any regard to species. Environmentalists are indifferent towards the suffering of animals while this is animal liberationists biggest concern.
How do environmentalists and animal liberationists views differ in regards to hunting.
Environmentalists consider hunting to be okay in some cases if it maintains the integrity of ecosystems. Animal liberationists believe that killing and causing pain to an animal is always wrong regardless of the effect it has on the ecosystem.
What is the goal of environmentalism?
To maintain diversity, integrity, beauty, and authenticity of the natural environment.
What is the main objective of Diamond’s article?
Wildlife management and to eliminate human interference.
What are the two main arguments in Diamond’s article?
Keystone species and fragmentation of habitats.
Give an example for Diamonds view on keystone species?
Thousands of keystone species were killed to protect deer population. Deer population soured and then later died.
