Utilitarianism and Animals Flashcards
Who is the Author Of Utilitarianism and Animals?
Gaverick Matheny (Utilitarian)
What are the philosophers’ claims in Utilitarianism and Animals?
Philosophers claim that sentience itself isn’t enough for moral consideration and they must be similar to species membership as human beings intellectually.
What does Gaverick Matheny argue in Utilitarianism and Animals?
Gaverick Matheny, from a utilitarian perspective, argues against other philosophers’ claims where Matheny emphasizes that animals must be in moral consideration because they’re sentient beings and therefore capable of having interests of feeling both pleasure and pain.
An animal seeks a pleasurable life free of pain that is similar to what human beings are interested in, and we should consider satisfying their interests when making moral decisions.
What does Gaverick Matheny encourage people to do to become an ethical person regarding animals?
Gaverick Matheny recommends that you should become a vegan, meaning that you don’t at least inflict on the animals’ suffering according to the equal consideration of interests.
(IMPORTANT) What is the principle of equal consideration of interests?
It is a principle that we’re morally obligated to consider, at least, the interests of all sentient beings (animals especially) who can feel pleasure and pain.
Sentience is a valid condition for having interests and therefore having those interests considered impartially.
Why is the use of animals around the world considered immoral according to Utilitarianism?
The majority of animals used for human deeds (medical and scientific laboratories, food factories, clothing, entertainment, and more activities) are completely immoral according to utilitarianism ethics.
It is because these animals aren’t having their interests respected of being pain-free and suffering in pain, and it is against their will.
According to equal consideration of interests, why do animals count again?
Animals deserve moral consideration as much as human beings because sentience correlates with having an interest in pleasure and pain. The interests of animals must be determined equally to anyone else before one makes an ethical decision.
What are the four principles of Utilitarianism in “Utilitarianism and Animals”
1) Universalist
2) Welfarist
3) Consequentialist
4) Aggregative
What was the point that Gaverick Matheny tries to make about (animal-human interest inequality) and how it relate to the principle of equal consideration of interests?
To eat animal products originating from food factories meant that we were fulfilling our own interests of tastebuds more than the interests of those animals of being pain-free. Which violates the principle of equal consideration of interests.
Why eating animals cannot be justified in equal consideration of interests?
There is no way to justify eating animals and it is immoral in this principle because the amount of pain that the animal experiences is exponentially greater than the pleasure we fulfill from eating them.
What does the principle (Universalist) in Utilitarianism mean?
Utilitarianism being “Universalist” means we’re taking into account of everyone’s interests affected by our actions impartially.
What does the principle (Welfarist) in Utilitarianism mean?
Utilitarianism being “Welfarist” means that it helps to determine what is morally good or not when it comes to the wellbeing of others.
Utilitarianism promotes an ethical conviction that leads us to satisfy our interests and others like how we all value having a life that is pain-free and pleasant.
What does the principle (Consequentialist) in Utilitarianism mean?
Utilitarianism being “Consequentialist” helps to evaluate if an act is morally right or wrong depending on the action’s expected consequence.
What does the principle (Aggregative) in Utilitarianism mean?
Utilitarianism being “Aggregative” meant that we consider and add up all of the interests affected by our actions.
Before making a decision, I should consider and weigh all of the scope, intensity, and duration affected by any of my actions. Then, choosing an ethical action that will satisfy the maximum amount of interest & utility possible.
What is the species of membership?
It is what separates human beings and other animals biologically. The differences in our biological groups between human beings and animals does NOT determine what group has more moral consideration.
