Intro to Philosophy and Ethics

Question 1

What is philosophy

Answer 1

the activity of using logical arguments to enable critical consideration of particular questions

Question 2

What is ethics

Answer 2

a system of moral principles that influence how people make decisions and conduct their lives

helps decide how to conduct ourselves to live a good life and what rights/responsibilities we have

Question 3

Moral philosophy and questions relating to animals

Answer 3

when given a moral decision what is right and what is wrong

• should we use animals for human benefit
• should we farm and kill animals
• use in scientific research
• pets?

Question 4

What is animal welfare and perspectives

Answer 4

scientific discipline that allows us to measure the status of an animal from several perspectives

• physical - suffering from pain or disease
• mental
• mental - suffering from fear
• naturalness - is animal kept in conditions not considered natural

Question 5

Dilemma - outdoor cats

Answer 5

welfare studdies sudgest better to allow cats to roam freely outside BUT other considerations needed such as

• nuisance to human neighbours
• hunt wildlife
• threat to public health

different people weigh values differently

Question 6

What is animal welfare

Answer 6

concerned with assessing ability of animal to cope with its environment.
distinct from ethical judgements about the way animal is treated