Midterm Flashcards
Philosophers/Theory
who was pythagoras
greek philosopher and mathematician (c.570-c.495 BC)
what did Pythagoras propose
close connections between humans and animals (kinship)
what was Pythagoras opposed to
killing and consumption of animals
who was Aristotle
greek philosopher and scientist (384-322 BC)
maintained a collection of wild animals
what did Aristotle believe about animals and humans
animals and humans share perception and emotion
did Pythagoras believe that humans have obligations/duties towards animals
yes, direct
what did Aristotle argue about
only humans have the capacity for speech and reason
what did Aristotle believe about animals
humans are superior and have absolute authority over animals
according to Aristotle, do humans have duties/obligations towards animals
no
who were the 2 philosophers from classical antiquity
Pythagoras and Aristotle
who was St Thomas Aquinas
Italian philosopher and theologian (1224-1274)
what did St Thomas Aquinas do
gave a christian flavour to Aristotle’s writings
what did St Thomas Aquinas believe about animals
animals do not have immortal souls
people whom mistreat animals may develop a cruel habit or commit a property wrong against owner
according to St Thomas Aquinas, do humans have duties/obligations towards animals
yes, indirect
what philosopher was from the middle ages
St Thomas Aquinas
who was Rene Descartes
French philosopher, physicist, physiologist, and mathematician (1596-1650)
what was Rene Descartes usually blamed for
introducing the concept of animals as automata/machines
what did Rene Descartes argue that animals were
that animals were devoid of language and therefore of rationality
were capable of feeling pain fear anger hope or joy
were capable of emotions without having any thoughts
according to Rene Descartes do humans have duties/obligations towards animals
no
who was the philosopher from the renaissance
rene descartes
who was Thomas hobbes
English philosopher (1588-1679)
what theory did Thomas Hobbes do
social contract theory (humans act out of self interest)
what did Thomas Hobbes argue about animals
since animals have no language they can not enter into social contracts with other beings
what did Thomas Hobbes think about animals
that they are not worthy of moral consideration but can matter to other humans
according to Thomas Hobbes, do humans have duties/obligations towards animals
yes, indirect
who was John Locke
English philosopher and physician (1632-1704)
what did John Locke develop
Hobbes’ idea of social contract theory:
- animals have very simple mental capacities
what did John Locke believe about animals
that animals could suffer and that harming them was morally wrong
also worried about the effects that animal cruelty has on people
according to John Locke, do humans have duties or obligations towards animals
yes, indirect
who was Immanuel Kant
German philosopher (1724-1804)
what did Immanuel Kant believe
morality is about following absolute rules
Humans have a value in their own right
what did Immanuel Kant introduce
the principle of categorical imperative
what did Immanuel Kant emphasize
the difference between humans and animals - animals may be treated as a means to an end
according to Immanuel Kant, do humans have duties/obligations towards animals
yes, indirect
who was Jeremy Bentham
english philosopher and social reformer (1748-1832)
what did Jeremy Bentham argue
that is was the consequences of actions that mattered
good=happiness
evil = pain and suffering
what did Jeremy Bentham argue about animals
if the blackness of skin does not give humans the right to exploitation, neither does the number of legs etc
according to Jeremy Bentham, do humans have duties/obligations towards animals
yes, direct
who was John Stuart Mill
English philosopher that developed benthams ideas into the utilitarianism (1806-1873)
according to John Stuart Mill, do humans have duties/obligations towards animals
yes, direct
who is Peter Singer
australian philosopher, professor of bioethics at Princeton and promotes utilitarian approach yet opposes most animal use (1946)
according to Peter Singer, do humans have duties or obligations towards animals
yes, direct
who was Tom Regan
american philosopher, emeritus professor at North Carolina state university (1938-2017)
what did Tom Regan argue about animals
animals are all subject of a life and therefore have inherent value
according to Tom Regan, do humans have duties or obligations towards animals
yes, direct
what are 2 types of ethical theories
those based on goodness and badness (results of actions)
those based on rightness and wrongness (intrinsic properties of actions)
within the utilitarian approach, whose suffering is considered
literally everyone involved i.e patient, the family, friends, medical staff, other patients
comparison between utilitarianism and animal rights
utilitarian:
- animals are worthy of moral consideration
- maximize total happiness
animal rights:
- animals have inherent value
- do not use animals
