Author Description
While it is generally accepted that animal welfare matters morally, it is less clear how to morally evaluate the ending of an animal's life. It seems to matter for the animal whether it experiences pain or pleasure, or enjoyment or suffering. But does it also matter for the animal whether it lives or dies? Is a longer life better for an animal than a shorter life? If so, under what conditions is this so, and why is this the case? Is it better for an animal to live rather than never to be born at all? The Ethics of Killing Animals addresses these value-theoretical questions about animal life, death and welfare. It also discusses whether and how answers to these questions are relevant for our moral duties towards animals. Is killing animals ever morally acceptable and, if so, under what conditions? Do animals have moral rights, such as the right to life and should they be accorded legal rights? How should our moral duties towards animals inform our individual behavior and policy-making? This volume presents a collection of contributions from major thinkers in ethics and animal welfare, with a special focus on the moral evaluation of killing animals.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This volume investigates the moral status of animal life and the ethical implications of ending an animal's existence. Edited by Robert Garner, Peter Singer, and Tatjana Visak, the book compiles contributions from prominent scholars in ethics and animal welfare. The authors utilize diverse philosophical frameworks to evaluate whether animals possess a right to life, the conditions under which killing might be permissible, and how these conclusions should influence human behavior and public policy.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- Philosophical arguments regarding the value of animal life versus the experience of suffering or pleasure.
- Analysis of the moral distinction between killing animals and causing them pain.
- Discussions on the intersection of moral rights and legal protections for animals.
- Evaluations of individual moral duties and systemic policy-making regarding animal treatment.
Scope Limits
- The text does not provide a singular, unified moral theory but rather presents a collection of diverse, sometimes conflicting, academic perspectives.
- It focuses primarily on theoretical ethics rather than providing a practical guide for animal husbandry or veterinary practice.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Experts and academics in the field of animal ethics recognize this volume as a significant contribution to the debate surrounding the moral status of non-human animals. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which is intended for students and scholars of philosophy rather than a general audience.
Page Count:
272
Publication Date:
2015-01-01
ISBN-10:
0190297611
ISBN-13:
9780190297619
Philosophy
Animal Rights
Applied ethics
Ethics
Nature
Moral Philosophy
Animal Welfare