Why Are Zoos Immoral
1. Are zoos immoral? Defend your response. Do not just provide your opinion, rather support your opinion by drawing upon the readings and comparing and contrasting the differing views.
Immorality by definition is that which does not conform to moral standards. The concept of what is and is not moral however has no standard. Morality varies by religion, culture, ethnicity, regional area, etc. When considering the question, “are zoos immoral?”, a definition of what is and is not moral must be first considered.
The question of morality and animal rights is just as complicated as the idea of human moral rights. In various countries dogs are working animals, menaces, food sources, and personal companions. So, while in American society some keep dogs as pets, in other areas and cultures around the world, the idea …show more content…
Specifically, just because domestic cats are pets does not mean they are not food options and the relative rarity of elephants does not negate their potential to be pets or food sources. Under this definition, it must also be noted that humans are in fact a species of animal.
So, then using this definition of animals, are zoos to be considered locations for the restraint and domestication of rare species, by human standards, or as a place of conservation, science, and protection for these animals?
Regan believes so strongly in animal rights that he holds a position that animals should not be considered a resource of humans (Regan, ). In addition, Singer argues that humans are guilty of speciesism and we should be of the thinking that species are all equal, thus we the human species of animal are equal to all other species of human (Singer, ). If we are to begin with a definition as stated above, that humans and animal are equal, then it is understandable that the same question of immorality from human zoos should be fostered in our perspective of animal
Immorality by definition is that which does not conform to moral standards. The concept of what is and is not moral however has no standard. Morality varies by religion, culture, ethnicity, regional area, etc. When considering the question, “are zoos immoral?”, a definition of what is and is not moral must be first considered.
The question of morality and animal rights is just as complicated as the idea of human moral rights. In various countries dogs are working animals, menaces, food sources, and personal companions. So, while in American society some keep dogs as pets, in other areas and cultures around the world, the idea …show more content…
Specifically, just because domestic cats are pets does not mean they are not food options and the relative rarity of elephants does not negate their potential to be pets or food sources. Under this definition, it must also be noted that humans are in fact a species of animal.
So, then using this definition of animals, are zoos to be considered locations for the restraint and domestication of rare species, by human standards, or as a place of conservation, science, and protection for these animals?
Regan believes so strongly in animal rights that he holds a position that animals should not be considered a resource of humans (Regan, ). In addition, Singer argues that humans are guilty of speciesism and we should be of the thinking that species are all equal, thus we the human species of animal are equal to all other species of human (Singer, ). If we are to begin with a definition as stated above, that humans and animal are equal, then it is understandable that the same question of immorality from human zoos should be fostered in our perspective of animal