Ethical Treatment of Animals
Running head: TITLE 1
Ethical Treatment of Animals
SOC 120 Introduction to Ethics & Social Responsibility
January 10, 2011
The Ethical Treatment of Animals Page 1
The ethical treatment of animals has not always been so controversial. In the
beginning, God created animals to serve man, and to be helpful to man. They have worth
and purpose and have become vital to mans existence in work, food, clothing and
companionship. They are of great benefit to humans. It is argued that human use of
animals has no ethical issues at all and that experimentation on them does not require
human benefit. The utilitarian theory allows us to examine ethical choices and in contrast, relativism allows us to determine our course of action with ethical values. Moral equal theories extend equal consideration and moral status to animals. (Ethics & Social Responsibility-1.7) Denying moral status to animals may require not harming animals because by doing so can cause harm to a human being’s morality. The ethical treatment of animals should always be humane and morally right. Animals have the ability to feel pleasure, pain and suffering.
Daily, we are subjected to decisions of right and wrong, or a situation that forces
us to respond in a good or bad way, acting morally of immorally. The utilitarianism
theory suggests that there is an obvious solution that is fair, and it may be one that
appeals to common sense, also, when faced with a set of choices, the chosen act should
have the best results for the greatest number affected by that choice. (Ethics & Social
Responsibility-1.7) We must choose the act that minimizes pain and suffering and that
will do the least harm.
Seeing an animal being treated cruelly or tortured immediately sparks your
Ethical
Ethical Treatment of Animals
SOC 120 Introduction to Ethics & Social Responsibility
January 10, 2011
The Ethical Treatment of Animals Page 1
The ethical treatment of animals has not always been so controversial. In the
beginning, God created animals to serve man, and to be helpful to man. They have worth
and purpose and have become vital to mans existence in work, food, clothing and
companionship. They are of great benefit to humans. It is argued that human use of
animals has no ethical issues at all and that experimentation on them does not require
human benefit. The utilitarian theory allows us to examine ethical choices and in contrast, relativism allows us to determine our course of action with ethical values. Moral equal theories extend equal consideration and moral status to animals. (Ethics & Social Responsibility-1.7) Denying moral status to animals may require not harming animals because by doing so can cause harm to a human being’s morality. The ethical treatment of animals should always be humane and morally right. Animals have the ability to feel pleasure, pain and suffering.
Daily, we are subjected to decisions of right and wrong, or a situation that forces
us to respond in a good or bad way, acting morally of immorally. The utilitarianism
theory suggests that there is an obvious solution that is fair, and it may be one that
appeals to common sense, also, when faced with a set of choices, the chosen act should
have the best results for the greatest number affected by that choice. (Ethics & Social
Responsibility-1.7) We must choose the act that minimizes pain and suffering and that
will do the least harm.
Seeing an animal being treated cruelly or tortured immediately sparks your
Ethical