All Animals Are Equal Essay - 1744 Words

In our world, protests occur each day on the issues of animal cruelty and human rights, but when the issues are put together which will reign over the other? The author Peter Singer of â€Å"All Animals are Equal† and â€Å"Tools for Research† presents his argument for determining when animal experiments are justified. The author starts his paper with a counter argument, questioning if one would be willing to let thousands of people die if those people could be saved by experimentation on a single animal. The answer is a unanimous no; in our culture we value human life over everything else. The author follows by asking the reader if they would be prepared to carry out their experiments on humans who are mentally retarded or orphaned babies, if that†¦show more content†¦Third, Singer states that, â€Å"apes, monkeys, dogs, cats, rats, and other animals are more aware of what is happening to them, more self†directing, and at least as sensitive to pain as a human infant.†(Page 2, Tools for Research) Singer is quick to assign cognitive motives to observed animal behaviour when it supports his arguments. However, it is in fact difficult to judge the causes for animal distress based on their reaction (i.e. writhing, facial contortions, moaning, and yelping) as these reactions may not be based on a cognitive awareness but on a self†preservation instinct. Singer and we can only hypothesize what an animal might be feeling, not make categorical arguments as Singer has done. Peter Singer’s argument for determining when animal experiments are justified is stated in his papers â€Å"All Animals are Equal† and â€Å"Tools for Research†. His argument in regards to animal experimentation and speciesism is very thought provoking and makes the readers review their own biases regarding human/animal relations. Although some of the ideas the author brings forward, such as using mentally retarded or orphaned babies for experimentation, are radical, they do make one think about the biases we have as a species. Also, his thoughts on mammals and birds ability to feel pain beingShow MoreRelatedAll Animals Are Equal By Singer1523 Words   |  7 PagesIn his article â€Å"All Animals Are Equal†, Singer discusses his basic principle of equality which is the equality of consideration, and he believes that it should be extended to all sentient beings. With that in mind, he sheds the light on three points that I’ll argue against. Singerâ⠂¬â„¢s first point is that the ability to suffer is what gives something or someone a moral value. The second point he gives is that humans are subordinating the animal interests to their taste preferences. As for the thirdRead MoreAll Animals Are Equal By Essay1193 Words   |  5 PagesArgumentative Essay: All Animals are Equal In his book all animals are equal, Singer argues that human beings should extend to non-human species the same equality of consideration that is extended to fellow human beings. He based his argument on the fact that past liberation movements aimed at condemning discriminations based on gender and sex had been declared absurd at their onset, but had later on yielded fruits. This discrimination against animals, he argues, is similar to these past discriminationsRead MoreEqual Rights for Animals in Peter Singer’s Article, All Animals are Equal652 Words   |  3 PagesSinger’s article, All Animals are Equal, Singer claims that animals deserve the same equal rights and respect that the human lives get. His strongest argument is defined by all animals, human or non-human shall be defined as equal. Singer makes some very strong arguments within his article, but I feel some of his statements are humanist. As an animal lover and mother to two pets, I disagree that not all a nimals or living things endure the same amount. However, I do agree that animals do deserve theRead MoreAll Animals Are Equal By Peter Singer1487 Words   |  6 PagesIn Peter Singer’s piece â€Å"All Animals Are Equal†, he begins his argument by an in-depth consideration of notable rights movements, such as the Black Liberation and women’s rights movement, then segues into the justification for equal consideration of rights regarding animals, before finally exposing the immorality behind factory farming and animal cruelty. According to Singer, â€Å"the basic principle of equality†¦is equality of consideration; and equal consideration for different beings may lead to differentRead MoreAll Animals Are Equal By Peter Singer1915 Words   |  8 Pagesgiven that there was no cruelty involved with raising and killing the cows, the cows are merely a means to an end. In â€Å"All Animals Are Equal†, Peter Singer, a utilitarian, claims that any being that has the capacity for suffering should be given the right to equal consideration (153). Singer is against speciesism, which is the belief that all and only human beings deserve a full and equal moral status, or that one non-human species is superior over another non-human species. Singer argues that a being’sRead MoreThe Rhetorical Analysis Of Peter Singer, All Animals Are Equal977 Words   |  4 PagesSinger, All Animals are Equal In order to understand Peter Singers article All Animals Are Equal, one has to look at his viewpoint and perspective. Singer is a utilitarian, which is someone who believes that best outcome is something that causes that greatest amount of pleasure (or the least amount of pain) for the greatest number of people. However, in this definition the word people is used, as to mean only humans. This is the point that Singer is trying to argue. Who is to say that animals do notRead MoreAnalysis Of Animal Farm, By George Orwell1235 Words   |  5 PagesAnimal Farm was written by George Orwell in 1945. The book reflects events leading up to the Russian Revolution of 1917 and then on into the Stalinist era of the Soviet Union. Animal farm includes use of propaganda as well. A quote for example would be â€Å"some animals are equal but some are more equal than others.† I think that this book fits that quote very well as the author makes Napoleon along with Snowball are the leaders of th e rebellion against Jones. A few questions that come to mind areRead MoreCompare Tom Regan, Carl Cohen and Peter Singer in Terms of Animal Rights813 Words   |  4 PagesSinger Animal rights are one of the most controversial issues today. There has been endless debate about whether or not animals have rights. Philosophers attempt to come up with the moral conclusions by taking in account the many different standpoints and presenting their related arguments. In his essay â€Å"The case of animal rights†, Tom Regan, a professor of philosophy at North Carolina State University, defends his view that the center of our moral concern should not bring the suffering on animal asRead MoreAnimal Rights And Utilitarianism1063 Words   |  5 PagesAnimal Rights and Utilitarianism Peter Singer argues, in regard to animal rights, that equal beings with equal interests should be considered equally. Singer makes three claims about equality to support his position; equality is based on equal consideration, speciesism is unjustified, and the ability to feel pain makes one worthy of moral consideration. He believes equal interests deserve equal treatment, and guidelines for having interests concern sentience; the ability to experience suffering.Read MoreAccepting Non Human Animals As Our Moral Equals Essay1518 Words   |  7 PagesZhiyuan Li Philosophy 2367 Accepting Non-Human Animals as Our Moral Equals In her essay Speaking of Animal Rights, Warren (1987) argues for the weak animal rights position, which holds that non-human animals have weaker rights than human beings because non-human animals do not have the same moral status as us human beings (383-4). This is due to their lack of the ability to â€Å"reason well enough to function as autonomous moral agents† (385), which she believes is a requirement for being moral of human