Tom Regan, PhD
Philosopher, North Carolina State University
The Case for Animal Rights
Essay - The Case for Animal Rights
by Tom Regan
Due October 5, 2012
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Animal Rights (PP6)
View the video clip and read the essay
linked below. Then answer the following questions. Do animals have
rights? Why or why not?
Tom Regan, PhD
Philosopher, North Carolina State University
The Case for Animal Rights
Essay - The Case for Animal Rights
by Tom Regan
Due October 5, 2012
Tom Regan, PhD
Philosopher, North Carolina State University
The Case for Animal Rights
Essay - The Case for Animal Rights
by Tom Regan
Due October 5, 2012
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20 comments:
I don’t think they have rights. The photographs in the video are disturbing, but how much more disturbing would it be for the animals being tested on to be human? I believe that if it serves a useful purpose, killing animals is okay. To hunt just for the sake of killing is not right. Animals do not have the ability to reason to solve complex problems, or have a sense of right and wrong. They can demonstrate some very basic problem solving abilities, but for the most part, they act out of instinctive urges. We. On the other hand do posses the ability for rational thought. So it is up to us to determine what is right and wrong. I believe that hunting an animal to the point of extinction because the popularity of their skin provides us with the opportunity to make a profit is wrong. I believe that hunting for the fun of it is wrong, if the animals body is not used. Scientific testing on animals is okay. Killing animals for food is okay. Native Americans are very big on the idea of living in harmony with everything on this earth, but they still hunt and kill for food. And as we all know, no part of the animal goes unused. I think that if they sanction killing animals to serve a useful purpose, it is probably okay. As with anything, there are gray areas that can be argues, but collectively, I believe that if it serves a useful purpose then it is okay, but killing without reason is not okay. So in a way, animals do have rights, but not to the extent that the animal rights movement would like. But in more of a way, no, animals don't have rights. Senseless animal abuse is not okay, but measured animal testing is okay. Its sometimes disturbing and evil, but a necessary evil. A good alternative would be using death row inmates for testing. Rather than execute them, why not put them to some use on their way out? Unfortunately, animal testing will always be the path chosen over using humans, so it will continue out of necessity. In the case of killing animals for food, that is never going to end either; not until it is economically unprofitable to continue, which is not in the foreseeable future. So in the case of animals being used for food, they should be given the right to a quick humane death, because that is the best that we can reasonably offer. In the case of hunting, if it is merely for their skin or a new trophy, or other things related to vanity, I see this as wrong and sickening, because it is unnecessary; whereas the other two items mentioned previously are necessary.
The question posed in this post is a very difficult one to answer. I don't want to say that I believe that animals don't have rights, because to some point, I do. But I am hypocritical in the fact that I don't feel any remorse or guilt for eating chicken or beef. I mean, if you have a pet, it should be taken care of as you would take care of yourself, and not be abused. However, I don't think that animals should be killed just to be killed. If you hunt for sport, I believe that you should use every part of the animals that you kill. I don't agree with animal testing, because it's cruel to me. I don't believe any life is better than any other, be you human, mammal, amphibian, whatever. So I guess I think that certain animals have rights and others don't? I'm not sure.
I have mixed feeling on this topic because I am not sure whether the question is that if I think animals have rights, or if I think they should have rights. If it is that if I think they have rights I would have to say no. The reason for that is that you may not be able to beat the crap put of your pets without getting introuble, but people still treat them as if they were just a peice of meat. Animals go through so much and in the video it showed how even people back then were treated like animals. It is not fair that just because they can't defend themselves with intelligence or strength that people should do what they want woth them. The only reason I have mixed emotions about this topic is because I am a meat eater and I do know that they kill them for that , but I still do not wish any harm to them. In regards to the second question if I think they shoudl have rights, i would have to say yes. I think that animals might have some rights now but not enough. They obviously can not defend themselves so people take advantage of that. In there heads they just have the "its better them then us." I mean I do not want human testing to be done, but animals have feelings too and they shouldn't have to go through all that just because we think they are less than us. This to me is just a complicated topic that I am stuck in the middle of. I love anomals and feel for them but at the same time I can not be a hipocrit when I am over here eating them. I do not kill them for fun or would ever harm one but I just think that animals just like humans need to be treated fairly. Just like we take care of humans when they sometimes do not come out as how people define "normal" animals need all that attention as well. We treat animals like if they are some kind of thing that gets in our way and with such hate and no emotion. When they give us food and have helped us in the past with like transportation and other things. All we are doing is using them and I feel that the least people can do is give some respect back and give them some rights.
The issue on Animal Rights is a very sensitive argument everywhere in the world. Animals have been very useful in the development of Science and Technology, we have gained a lot from animal products and such. But the question is do they have rights? I certainly believe that Animals have the right to be treated with utmost care, and respect. For instance, The donkeys in Cairo we see them everywhere carrying almost 5x their size, some of them are too tired they just pass out in the street and the owners just leave them there to die. I think it is prudent for us human beings to pay utmost respect to animals because without them we wouldn’t be enjoying the products that they provide us; from Beauty products, to clothing, to Medicine and Food. Agreeing to animal rights doesn’t necessarily mean that we have to be vegetarian or what have you but I believe that we owe it to animals to at least treat them as living creatures not like slaves or like they don’t have feelings at all.
-Arlly Garcia
I believe animals should have rights. Like in the video he states animals have feelings and they undrstand whats going on. I can tell that this is very true. I grew up on a pig farm in Iowa, As a kid I remeber playing fetch and getting them to sit and come on comand. Still to this day I only eat turkey bacon. I will never forget the things i saw and heard growing up on that farm. I understand we all need to eat but that doesnt mean we need to brutally kill the animal or torture it to death.
Ashley Nechanicky
The question: “Do animals have rights?” is a hard question to answer. In one hand, I would say yes because do believe that animals have the right to not suffer cruel and unusual punishment and the right to be properly cared for. I also do not believe that it is right to test products, or experimental procedures on animals. On the other hand, I believe in hunting but only if you are going to use the entire animal that you hunt. I eat beef and chicken and I wear leather.
Every culture view animals and their purposes differently. In our culture most of us are raised with a pet like a cat or a dog and in other cultures they view these animals as food like we view chickens and cows. Some cultures view some animals, like cows and cats, as sacred and they worship them; then you have cultures that find animals, like pigs, to be so vile and filthy that they are forbidden to eat them.
Animals should not have to be subjected to abuse in any way. Even thought they are incapable of verbal communication, I fully believe that they are capable of feeling emotion and pain. Farmers that raise animals for consumption are of the great examples of the contradiction that often follows this question. If anyone has ever viewed documentaries like Food Inc. you’ve seen that these animals are kept in, in all aspects, very inhuman environments. Most people would look at this and would feel some short of compassion for what these animals are subjected to, but ultimately it does not stop most of us from buying it once they have been butchered and packaged.
I admire the passion that animal rights activist have. I understand their motivation and their purpose. I also believe that there is a cycle of life and I believe that the food chain is part of this cycle. I believe that it is okay to wear the skin of an animal even though I may not agree with the way that it was obtained. I enjoy eating meat even though I view the way that they are raised as disgusting and disturbing. I love my dogs like they are my children, but I wouldn’t feel the same way about a cow or a pig. To me it seems that animals do have rights, it’s just at the discretion of the caretaker for that animal.
I don't believe that animals have rights. But i don't believe that they should be be brutally attacked our poached. I believe that animals were put on this earth for our benefit. We need them for dairy products, meat, and too continue the circle of life. They are restrictions and guidlines for the use of animals in my opinion. Like you can't over hunt an animal because you need enough to reproduce to make more. For instance, we need cows for their meat. We also need them for their milk production. So we need enough to reproduce and others for meat. thus why they are farmed properly to make that cycle flawless. But obviously in some cases their farming of the cows are inhumane. To keep control of this there has to be rules and regulations. But not just for the sanity of the cows but the cleanlyness of the meat and dairy products.
I believe if you can't fight for your rights, in anyway, then you don't get any. The animals can't physically say or show that they deserve this or that. Therfore they don't have rights. This doesn't mean abusive or harmfull behavior is OK. Infact it means the opposite. They need to be treated with love and care because they serve a purpose for us humans, so we should show them respect. In other words animal abuse is never tolerated and if someone breaks that , they deserve to be penelized or jailed. animals should not be hunted without the full purpose of using the animals resources and without a license.
Evan McFarland
October 5, 2012 11:25
I also struggle with picking a side on this debate. If I had to pick one side or the other, I would say that animals do not have rights. I don't believe that it is right to torture them or kill them just for self amusement, but when it comes down to it.... they can't speak and they are not equal to humans. Therefore, they do not have the same rights that a human does. Animals are extremely useful for providing food, clothing, and product/drug testing to better humans. The animals that are being used for that should be treated humanely but they do not have any "rights". I believe that any living being deserves to be treated with kindness, but unfortunately animals arent always treated kindly. There are a lot of humans in certain parts of this world who don't even have rights so to say that an animal has rights is ridiculous to me.
Chelsea Holgate
I believe that many people think that animals don’t have rights. Yet, I believe they should. There have been many organizations that were created in order to defend the rights of animals. Some of those organizations could tie back to PETA. PETA is an organization that does anything to try to stop animal cruelty and save the lives of animals. Animals, weather in the past or present have gone through so much. Some people tend to mistreat and abuse their own dogs and other pets. I recently adopted a dog from the animal’s shelter and the workers stated that that puppy had gone through a lot in her life because her owners never took good care of her. In reality humans tend to think that animals don’t have feelings. When in reality they do. When people kill these animals and mistreat them they feel it. How do I know that they feel pain? I know because when my puppy is hurt shell cry, when she’s sick, shell sleep forever, and when she doesn’t feel loved, shell cuddle next to you. Animals have the exact same feelings as humans. Humans and animals were both put on this Earth for one purpose, which was to reproduce. The only difference is that animals and humans just have a different form of a living system. So if we have rights, why can’t they? That’s why I’m against people that don’t think that animals have rights. Humans are just selfish and just think of themselves. Obviously not all humans think this way, but a big majority does. That’s why I agree with Tom Regan because he thinks that animals are here for a reason, and that should be greatly taken into consideration. This idea could tie back to the argument this class had in the past assignment about sterilizing women without letting them know. In a lot of the responses that I read many people disagreed with the government of that country. Many people disagreed with that government because women should have the right to do whatever they want with their bodies. But, when it comes to the lives of animals, people don’t care. They don’t care because animals are seen less than humans. Just because animals can’t defend themselves with what will happen with their bodies, doesn’t give us the right to abuse them or kill them in cruel ways. Without these animals we wouldn’t be able to survive. Therefore humans need to be more appreciative of what they have, and at least have some respect for animals. Tom Regan stated that the most important aspect in this situation is just the respect these animals deserve. In reality, I believe that animals don’t have rights because they are seen less than humans weather they have the same feelings or not. Honestly, It has always been like this and most likely it won’t change. The least we can do is have respect for them, since they are a big part of our living.
Stephanie Galaviz
I can't think of anything I disagree with in the video. The speaker made his case well by explaining that just because an animal is not human, it doesn't mean that we do not have to respect it. Animals feel pain, fear, and happiness. They shouldn't have to live their lives in inhumane conditions just because they are being raised for slaughter or any other "tool" for humans. I know the importance of using animals for scientific research, but it should be done as humanely as possible. The pictures shown of the abused and neglected animals were awful. Animals do have rights and they should be respected. They may not be able to voice their feelings, but they still feel.
On the topic of animal rights, I believe that animals do haw rights to some extent. Trough revolution the cycle has not changed much from then until now when it comes to the circle of life. I feel that yes animals have rights as to not be abused when chosen to be a family owned pet. I eleven that's such jurisdictions are and should be made to better protect these animales. However, with conjunction to the circle of life, animals ate what feed humans with the nutrients we need. I believe that yes my all animales are chosen to be "favored" over those whom are used to better sit fancy on our dinner plates., but those animales are the ones who are left to procreate and keep the humane society sane in terms of health.
Do animals have rights?....this has to be one of the most difficult questions to answer. The answer that comes to my mind right off the bat, which I know is the right answer and that is yes they do. But then, different questions pop up in my head. If they do have rights then I feel like a hypocrite because I eat meat, in fact I love meat. Purchasing meats to eat is a big part of contributing to killing animals. One thing I know for sure is that after watching that video made it made me realize many things and understand why animal rights activist are so passionate about changing the world. Just like humans, animals should have the right to be respected and not mistreated let alone be killed for dinner. But what is going to solve the problem? People need to eat and not all are willing to become meat free. People have been eating meats, eggs, milk etc. since the beginning of time and how can that be changed or will it ever be changed. While we cannot make that change, humans should take responsibility in what we can. What rights should they have? They should be free of cruelty. If a person has a or many pets, we should treat them with respect and be able to help them in any way we can. Like feeding them, always keep water in their bowls, keeping them out of the heat etc. They should not be hunted when doing it as a sport or for coats.
To say animals don't deserve rights is purely discrimination because we have such a stronger natural compassion to other humans a much lesser compassion in nature to other animals. Thus people have had their views on rights/morality for animals shifted by this and mixing up feelings reacting to true logic & natural illogical reactions. Because in truth both feel equally convincing and that it is by our emotional reactions to knowledge for how we judge our opinion on it, despite the facts.
We accord humans natural rights because they are conscious and can suffer, and not for any other reason. Most other animals are conscious and can suffer, therefore they have also a natural right by the same reasoning. To say otherwise is to discriminate arbitrarily.
For example, animals have higher cognitive abilities (particularly primates) then many handicapped people. We find it disgusting that people (Nazis)experimented on these people. Logically then we should be equally disgusted if other beings with the same or superior awareness are harmed.
As humans we are presumably endowed with more intelligence, logic, knowledge and emotion than those less then ourselves I do not believe that should put us above the wrong but rather below - a crying baby not yet endowed needs for us to place their needs first in order for them to thrive. As I am not speciesist I believe the same "moral" application should be applied to the animal kingdom. From a non-religious aspect I believe it is our duty and obligation to use our endowments for the good.
Animals should have rights. They are living, breathing things and they have feeling and feel pain just like us. Yes they are a nutrition source. I have used then as a food source. I have hunted them for my food source. I have animals as pets and we watch them for entertainment. Animals may be used for these thing but they should have rights to. No animal deserves to be starved, beaten , neglected, They deserve to be loved, fed, respected even in death. If you have to uses these animals for food respect them make there death as quick as possible. Just because they aren’t as smart or they don’t know all we know doesn’t mean they shouldn’t have rights If we think animals shouldn’t have right, they can’t talk, Some can’t feed them selves or there not smart. They don’t know anything. Then in that respect if these are the reason why do we give babies rights they aren’t smart. They don’t know how to feed themselves, go potty in toilet ,clean themselves and they step on our right just like animals. They both learn. Animals deserve right to just as anyone else. They feel just like us
A caption from Jeremy Bentham on the video stated that it “Is Not, Can they reason, nor Can they talk? but, Can they suffer? I couldn’t of said it, any better way; I do believe they should have rights, I do believe in humanity period!; I believe the world has somewhat become so desensitized that we are no longer moved by compassion; now am I going to become a Vegan? because I don’t want to eat or hurt animals for my good? Absolutely not!, I love a little steak once in a while, do I agree of the conditions or how they are handle while being raised to be killed for our good not at all.
However, I do believe, that we have come up to be a world that has lost our moral humane compass as human beings. Yes, I do believe animals are human beings because they are considered a living organism of some sort. However, I see throughout the centuries how we have treated human beings as animals and I see many suffer in un-humane ways beyond. It baffles me that anyone should be treated as such.
Yes we slaughter them and eat them and hunt them as a race; however I believe in our own human race we do the same, maybe not in the same fashion or order but I believe nor matter what they should have rights no matter what.
The question whether animals have rights or not is an overly
controversial question. It's been debated over and over by all people
around the world. After watching the video, I am of the opinion that
the speaker is correct. Animals do have rights just as much as
humans. I think the reason we don't consider animals to be
"commodities" or "tools" is because they lack the intellectual
capacity that we as humans possess. So that begs the question; does
intelligence define a human? If so how is it then those who are
mentally ill or aren't able to speak, comprehend and communicate
aren't considered animals? Shouldn't we take away their rights too
since they do not meet the criterion of being a human? The speaker
said animals have lives of their own and they're not here to be used
as a tool or as a commodity by humans. He also said the philosophy of
animal rights promotes and encourages justice, and rights for all
living beings. Personally, I believe animals have rights and they
should be treated with respect just as you would treat any human with
respect. I don't think they should be slaughtered so people can
celebrate their accomplishments by having feasting sessions on animal
meat. I think human are selfish to think that, out of the all
creatures out on this planet, they alone have rights and the fate of
every other animal should be decided by them. Animals might lack the
intellectual capabilities but they still have rights on the notion
that they are alive. They should be respected and humans should not
decide what to do with them. We did not make them so we should not
degrade them or take their lives away from them.
I don’t think animals have rights no matter how much I love them and I could never hurt them in any way shape or form….
This is what I believe:
While animals deserve reasonable protection against abuse, they do not have legal "rights" in the same way humans do. The US courts have upheld the concept that with the granting of rights also comes with the responsibility of duties. Since animals cannot reasonably be expected to carry out any duties, they are also accordingly denied rights.
This does not give humans any legal standing in cases of abuse. In the same way animals cannot have rights humans DO have duties and responsibilities. In the same way that most US communities do not allow a person to have a poorly kept or dangerous residence, humans are not allowed to abuse animals to the point of starvation, thirst, disease, and/or death.
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