Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
Applied Ethics - Eating animals - Coggle Diagram
Applied Ethics - Eating animals
What makes it a moral issue?
The intentions behind eating/killing animals
Involves the suffering of animals, for our own selfish needs
Involves killing
The benefits/harm to society
The benefits/harm to the environment
The (futile) point of eating animals
Do animals hold moral status?
Who are the moral patients concerned?
Individuals eating animals
Individuals who are troubled by/are against eating animals
The animals themselves
Those who are involved with farming of animals as a source of income
Utilitarianism
What principles do we need to consider?
Does eating animals cause more pain/pleasure for animals?
Does eating animals cause more pleasure/pain for humans?
What types of pleasures (higher or lower) do we get from eating animals?
What are the long term effects?
Are animals moral patients?
Do we have alternative food sources?
What are the preferences involved?
Act Utilitarianism
Do animals have moral status?
Yes - Bentham: "The question is not, Can they reason? nor, Can they talk? But can they suffer?"
Yes - They can experience pleasure and pain
Rule Utilitarianism
Do animals have moral status?
Yes - Mill: they have moral status but of a lesser degree than humans as they are incapable of higher pleasures
Kantian Ethics
What principles do we need to consider?
What are the intentions behind eating animals?
Can we universalise the act of eating animals?
Do we have a perfect duty towards animals?
Are animals moral patients?
Can animals be used as a means to end?
Does eating animals cause any unintended effects on our character?
Is eating animals objectively right or wrong?
Virtue Ethics
What principles do we need to consider?
Are animals moral patients?
Where are animals in the hierarchy?
What is the ergon of animals?
What virtues/vices does eating animals express?
Does eating animals help/deter us from reaching eudaimonia?
What long-term effects does eating animals have on our character?