Second Thoughts on How we Treat Animals
Advisor(s)
Jonathan Spelman
Confirmation
1
Document Type
Poster
Location
McIntosh Activities Room
Start Date
19-4-2024 12:00 PM
End Date
19-4-2024 12:50 PM
Abstract
Most people place nonhuman animals in a completely different moral category than humans, which makes it much easier to justify treating them differently. Many humans consider and treat animals as a mere resource, whether it be for food, entertainment, or transportation. However, such treatment towards humans would be considered cruel and barbaric, due to the pain and suffering it would cause. In defense of such behavior, people contend that humans are superior to or more valuable than animals, making their pains and sufferings deserving of greater consideration. When examined however, many of the reasons for why humans should be considered superior are weak. It’s not clear that the pain and suffering a human experiences is much worse than that a dog experiences, so it doesn’t seem reasonable to allow a dog to needlessly suffer, and the same goes for all other animals. It is right of us to give moral considerations to humans for the sake of their ability to experience pain and suffering. However, it is wrong of us to be inconsistent and fail to grant the same moral considerations to the pains and sufferings experienced by nonhuman animals.
Recommended Citation
Liechty, Noah Christopher, "Second Thoughts on How we Treat Animals" (2024). ONU Student Research Colloquium. 30.
https://digitalcommons.onu.edu/student_research_colloquium/2024/Posters/30
Level of Access
Restricted to ONU Community
Restricted
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Second Thoughts on How we Treat Animals
McIntosh Activities Room
Most people place nonhuman animals in a completely different moral category than humans, which makes it much easier to justify treating them differently. Many humans consider and treat animals as a mere resource, whether it be for food, entertainment, or transportation. However, such treatment towards humans would be considered cruel and barbaric, due to the pain and suffering it would cause. In defense of such behavior, people contend that humans are superior to or more valuable than animals, making their pains and sufferings deserving of greater consideration. When examined however, many of the reasons for why humans should be considered superior are weak. It’s not clear that the pain and suffering a human experiences is much worse than that a dog experiences, so it doesn’t seem reasonable to allow a dog to needlessly suffer, and the same goes for all other animals. It is right of us to give moral considerations to humans for the sake of their ability to experience pain and suffering. However, it is wrong of us to be inconsistent and fail to grant the same moral considerations to the pains and sufferings experienced by nonhuman animals.