The Moral Difference between Animals and Humans Essay -- Morals Ethics

The Moral Difference between Animals and Humans A incorrupt issue is generally considered to be ace which arises from the need to take another persons interests into consideration. However, by saying another persons interests this seems to rule out the interests of animals from the moral debate. Although many people do value animals, there atomic take 18 still others who consider animals as no more than a source of food. It could be argued that our primary moral obligations towards those people who value animals includes secondary obligations towards the animals they value. The problem past is that we have no secondary obligations towards those animals which are not valued by people. Consequently those animals would have no moral rights. Despite that argument we still purport that it is morally wrong to inflict certain actions, such as torture, on animals. We should, therefore, consider the possibility that animals do have moral rights. If we change the initial disceptation to read a moral issue is one which arises from the need to take another living beings interests into consideration we can then consider what gives a living being moral rights, and what moral difference there is between animals and humans. The interests of others may range from simple hobbies to caring for the sick. Obviously these interests have differing levels of moral importance. Although there are a number of moral principles that we could use as examples, let us consider two which are most relevant to animals and humans. They are, the right to individual freedom, and the right not to bruise harm from another. Humans expect these rights from each other, but do not necessarily grant them to animals. What is it then that gives humans these rights but not animals? Lan... ...a danger. But the animals actions do not immediately change from watching to attacking. Instead, the clear moves from a state of watching to one of preparing for attack and displays this change in the form of p rowling. During that process the bear is making a judgment which is displayed by either attacking or not attacking depending on whether or not I pose a danger. By not attacking, the bear is displaying consideration for an other which is a basic form of moral judgment. It could, therefore, be argued that to the extent that certain animals display similar demeanour they then deserve moral consideration from us. Bibliography Dennett, Daniel C. Brainchildren (Penguin, 1998) Essay 24 Klempner, G. Reason, Values and Conduct Unit 13 Raphael, D.D. Moral Philosophy (2nd edn OUP 1994) Sprigge, T.L.S. The Rational Foundation of ethical motive (Routledge 1990)