Darwin believed that not only did human beings have a direct kinship with other animals, but the latter had social, mental and moral lives too. Ĭharles Darwin, by presenting the theory of evolution, revolutionized the way that humans viewed their relationship with other species. However, close analysis shows that many human features such as complex sign usage, tool use, and self-consciousness can be found in some animals. In Cartesian dualism, consciousness was unique to human among all other animals and linked to physical matter by divine grace. René Descartes believed that non-humans are automata-complex machines with no soul, mind, or reason. Examples include Buddhism, Jainism, and some forms of Hinduism. Several religious traditions, especially those originating in India, have promoted animal welfare as an important or fundamental concept, even to the point of promoting veganism. According to contemporary philosopher Nigel Warburton, for most of human history the dominant view has been that animals are there for humans to do with as they see fit. His notebooks also record his anger with the fact that humans used their dominance to raise animals for slaughter. Throughout history, some individuals, like Leonardo da Vinci for example, who once purchased caged birds in order to set them free, were concerned about cruelty to animals. Main articles: Animal welfare and Animal rights They say that most animal use itself is unnecessary and a cause of suffering, so the only way to ensure protection for animals is to end their status as property and to ensure that they are never viewed as a substance or as non-living things. Animal rights theorists criticize these positions, arguing that the words "unnecessary" and "humane" are subject to widely differing interpretations and that animals have basic rights. Some utilitarians argue for a weaker approach which is closer to the animal welfare position, whereas others argue for a position that is similar to animal rights. Utilitarian advocates argue from the position of costs and benefits and vary in their conclusions as to the allowable treatment of animals. In contrast, some have argued that the definition of 'unnecessary' stated above varies widely and could include virtually all current use of animals. It may be said that there is nothing inherently wrong with using animals for human purposes, such as food, clothing, entertainment, and research, but that it should be done in a way that minimizes unnecessary pain and suffering, sometimes referred to as "humane" treatment. While it is routine practice in the United States, docking a piglet's tail as part of regular practice is prohibited in the European Union (EU). Additionally, laws governing animal cruelty vary from nation to nation. Others would respond that it is a routine technique for meat production to prevent harm later in the pig's life.
Many would claim that docking a piglet's tail without an anesthetic constitutes cruelty. There are several conceptual approaches to the issue of cruelty to animals.Įven though some practices, like animal fighting, are widely acknowledged as cruel, not all people and nations have the same definition of what constitutes animal cruelty. For example, some laws govern methods of killing animals for food, clothing, or other products, and other laws concern the keeping of animals for entertainment, education, research, or pets. More narrowly, it can be the causing of harm or suffering for specific achievements, such as killing animals for entertainment cruelty to animals sometimes encompasses inflicting harm or suffering as an end in itself, referred to as zoosadism.ĭivergent approaches to laws concerning animal cruelty occur in different jurisdictions throughout the world. White spots are shotgun pellets.Ĭruelty to animals, also called animal abuse, animal neglect or animal cruelty, is the infliction by omission (neglect) or by commission by humans of suffering or harm upon non-human animals.
0 kommentar(er)
