Humans and animals are two different things; however, they can be the same. We consider ourselves different from animals because we don’t walk on all fours, don’t eat off the ground, we have manners, we know the difference between right and wrong, and we have free will. Although, animals have the ability to do what they want when they want,…
Animals deserve rights because just like humans, they feel excruciating pain, suffer and have feelings. One would argue that animals don’t experience emotions? But the answer is of course they do. It is emotions that allow animals to display various behavior patterns. According to the theory of utilitarianism, all sentient beings should be given consideration in the society and this includes both animals and humans. Also, animals cannot speak for themselves and for this reason they should be treated equally, protected and given the same respect as human beings. Peter singer’s approach also supports the argument on equal consideration in that animals deserve the same respect as human beings but just in a different view. In today’s society humans exploit animals for milk, meat, fur, scientific experimentation etc. and animals are constantly injured or killed. Their pain and sufferings should be taken into consideration, as this unjust treatment is morally unacceptable. Similarly speciesism is an…
In the article, “Strengths and Weaknesses of Utilitarianism”, Louis P. Pojman explained the grounds on which utilitarianism has been attacked and showed some possible response to its defenders which imply his positive attitude towards utilitarianism [1] . In order to argue that thesis, Pojman’s one important premise is the response to the no-rest objection. He believed that the agent should aim at maximizing his or her own happiness as well as other people’s happiness and is best not to worry much about the need of those not in our primary circle.[1] .…
First of all, one of the reasons that humans should be in a separate category from non-human animals is that human beings are conscious and can choose courses of action (Alger and Alger). Human beings are capable of taking wise decisions by using their judgement. On the other hand, the other animals are not conscious and operate only on instinct (Alger and Alger).…
Utilitarianism is the ethical theory that believes one should do what will promote the greatest utility for as many people as possible, that utility is often considered to be happiness or pleasure. There are different kinds of utilitarian views; hedonistic, preference, rule, and act to name a few, but they all have the same main objective. This theory does indeed seem good at first, but it is flawed. The case of the lonesome stranger challenges utilitarianism by bringing up issues of justice in different kinds of utilitarianism. The lonesome stranger is a persuasive argument to utilitarianism, showing problems pertaining to justice.…
When looked at in terms of utilitarianism, many aspects of the way I choose to interact with non-human animals are valid, and some are not…
The Utilitarianism theory supports individual capability to foresee the costs of an act. A Utilitarian considers the decision of giving the best profit to a large number of people; this is known to be ethically correct.…
1. What are the key differences between utilitarianism, deontology, natural law ethics, and virtue theory?…
A utilitarian believes in the action for the good for all people. This would mean that a Utilitarian would agree with the magistrate’s decision on framing the innocent man. The reason behind this agreement is that since the one man being killed is saving lives and saving chaos it makes it ethical, from a utilitarian standpoint. According to utilitarianism one must consider the consequences of a certain action. So in this case the magistrate must weigh the pros and cons of the decision to execute this man. The magistrate must be a utilitarian because he decided to kill the innocent man in an attempt make the majority of people calm. Utilitarian’s also believe in the idea of attaining happiness or pleasure. Therefore making a decision to kill the man the magistrate must believe that it will make everyone happy, making it morally correct in the magistrate’s eyes.…
OPTION "A" Write a 'contrast' essay dealing with the major distinction between utilitarian and deontological reasoning. Make reference to all relevant aspects of the two positions including the 'act' and 'rule' versions along with pertinent examples that clarify your answer.…
Peter Singer, a Utilitarian, believes in the maximization of happiness of humans and extends this thought to the nonhuman inhabitants of Earth. Singer, believes that all animals should be granted moral status, similar to that of the human inhabitants. He presents his argument in a modus ponens form. His conclusion of, that nonhuman entities should be given the same amount of moral consideration as human entities is reached though his presentation of premises that if an entity can suffer, then its suffering must be given similar moral consideration to that of human entities. In Singer’s second premise he states that that nonhuman entities have the capability of suffering, therefore making his argument strong and valid.…
Utilitarian ethics is an expansive field of normative ethics that believes that the action that you take should be that which maximises utility, that is to say prospering and maximizing happiness whilst mitigating suffering or sadness as much as possible. Whilst it was once often considered a hedonistic field, there being one that argues pleasure being the only true, intrinsic good or aim, it is now more commonly referred to that of a consequentiality field, focussed more on consequentialism. It may be argued then that there is quite a difference between the seemingly 'old Utilitarianism' and that of the new consequentialism.…
Singer's Utilitarianism does give some sense of moral equality between humans and animals. He felt that animals have identical interests that are equally morally important as humans and that they must be treated with equal concern. Singer says: "Speciesism. . . the belief that we are entitled to treat members of other species in a way in which it would be wrong to treat members of our own…
The topic of animal cruelty is one of great importance to the wold today. Why…
Utilitarianism is the theory that an action is better if it produces the greatest good for the greatest number. The 18th and 19th century saw rise to the theory of Utilitarianism which can be traced back to Jeremy Bentham. Francis Hutcheson put forward the initial principle of Utilitarianism 'The greatest happiness of the greatest number'. Utilitarianism is a teleological theory where depending on the consequences of the action, that action will either be good or bad. Utilitarianism comes from the Greek word 'utility' meaning usefulness. So, Utilitarianism is a theory of usefulness and as a result of this theory an action is correct if it creates the greatest happiness for the greatest good. This theory…