Man's duties to animals

Question 1

How many positions is it possible to take regarding the more standing of animals?

Answer 1

3

Question 2

Name the three positions regarding the moral standing of animals

Answer 2

1. Animals have no moral status
2. Animals have instrumental value
3. Animals have intrinsic value

Question 3

What does the standing ‘animals have no moral status’ ultimately dictate?

Answer 3

We have no duties towards animals

Question 4

What does the standing animals have no moral status arise from?

Answer 4

The contract view of mortality where the concept of morals is directly correlated to long term self interest

Question 5

What does the standing ‘animals have instrumental value’ ultimately dictate?

Answer 5

We have indirect duties towards them, We might indirectly harm a human by directly harming an animal

Question 6

Explain how different moral standings could be associated with a mouse

Answer 6

Pest Mouse
-	No moral Status 
Lab Mouse
-	Instrumental Value
Pet Mouse
-	Intrinsic value

Question 7

What is the sociozoological scale?

Answer 7

A hierarchy of animals or a moral ordering, based on traditions and prejudices

Question 8

list some factors that could affect where an animal sits on the sociozoologic scale (5)

Answer 8

1. how useful the animal is
2. how closely one collaborates with the individual animal
3. how cute and cuddly the animal is
4. how harmful the animal can be
5. how ‘demonic’ it is perceived to be (including historically e.g cats and witchcraft)

Question 9

Name the five ethical frameworks

Answer 9

1. Contractarian
2. Utilitarianism
3. Animal rights (Deontology)
4. Relational
5. Respect for nature

Question 10

Why should contractarians act morally?

Answer 10

Because it is within their best interest

Question 11

-The contractarian idea is that ethical obligations originate in mutual agreements or contracts between people, true or false?

Answer 11

True

Question 12

What do utilitarians believe?

Answer 12

The greatest good for the greatest number as all sentient beings have interests which count morally and deserve equal consideration

Question 13

What are one of the problems associated with utilitarianism

Answer 13

Only net costs and benefits count- is it ok for 49% of the population to live in misery if 51% are happy?

There is no clear moral distinction between the killing of humans and animals as we are all considered sentient beings

Question 14

Explain the deontology viewpoint

Answer 14

Good results cannot justify evil means- it is unacceptable to treat a sentient being as a means to achieve a goal

Question 15

Explain the relational viewpoint

Answer 15

Morality grows out of our relationship with animals

Question 16

Explain the respect for nature viewpoint

Answer 16

Nature must take its course, the species is a bigger event than an individual.