Midterm

Question 1

Moral/ ethical duties

Answer 1

• More than just a feeling, needs to be backed up with reason but not science
• Direct: Animals have moral standings, they are members of our moral community
• Indirect: Animals do not have moral standing, they are not members of our moral community

Question 2

Contractarianism

Answer 2

• Based on a contract or agreement between individuals
• Based on self-interest, treating others well because you want to be treated well
• Morality only applies to individuals who can enter into an agreement and keep it so animals are technically excluded
• Moral obligations towards animals are based on how much they matter to other humans (so they are indirect)

Question 3

Utilitarianism

Answer 3

• Morality is based on consequences, humans should maximize pleasure and minimize pain
• Animals are included in the moral community since they can experience pleasure and pain as well
• Killing may be okay in some cases
• Weakness: Justice may not be done

Question 4

Animal rights view

Answer 4

• Morality is based on rights that should be protected. These include the right to life and liberty
• Animals are included in the moral community since they are sentimental beings
• Inherent value cannot be used in calculations about consequences
• Killing is ONLY okay if it is in self defence
• Weaknesses: Sometimes it is hard to define harm and who has inherent values

Question 5

Rational view(s) (Under contextual approach)

Answer 5

• Causing suffering is wrong because it demonstrates lack of care
• Duties to animals may be based on our emotional connections to them
• Very case specific
• Humans may be concerned about animals because of the negative effect that poor treatment of animals has on other humans

Question 6

Respect for nature view

Answer 6

• Moral concern may be based on the potential extinction of species
• Animals deserve to be protected from extinction; we can kill outdoor cate because sometimes they harm birds
• Domestic animals are considered to be less valuable that wild animals

Question 7

Bernard Rollin 2012

Answer 7

Two types of ethical theories: Theological and deontological

Question 8

Theological

Answer 8

Utilitarian. Goodness and badness

Question 9

Deontological theories

Answer 9

Animal rights: Based on the rightness and wrongness of actions

Question 10

Science

Answer 10

Human treatment of animals from the animals perspective

Question 11

Ethics

Answer 11

Human treatment of animals from the humans perspective

Question 12

Law

Answer 12

Combination of ethics and science

Question 13

Edenborough “Pig park”

Answer 13

First domestic pig park. Boar behaviour remained in quality, but not quantity

Included: Manure area, rooting area, activity area, nesting area and individual sow feeding stalls

Question 14

5 freedoms

Answer 14

Freedom from hunger and thirst 
Freedom from discomfort 
Freedom from injury and disease
Freedom to perform normal behaviour 
Freedom from fear and distress

Question 15

World health definition for animal welfare considered

Answer 15

• How the animal is coping with their living situation
• The animal is not suffering from unpleasant states
• It is receiving adequate professional monitoring for all aspects of their health