Do all animals have equal rights?
Peter Singer is a man of careful reason and his belief is that all animals are equal. This means that animals have equal interests to humans and should have the same quality of life based on these interests. Singer believes that humans put their interests over other animals because they are intellectual and should have a better quality of life based on their ability to reason and have complex understanding, which other species lack. He calls this attitude towards non-humans, speciesism, which is the idea that being human is a good enough reason for human animals to have greater moral rights than non-human animals. This is a bias in favor of the interests of one’s own species and against those members of other …show more content…
Mill’s argument of Utilitarianism is a broad view that explains the base principle for morality is happiness. As stated, “the creed which accepts as the foundation of morals “utility” or “the greatest happiness principle” holds that actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness; wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness. By happiness is intended pleasure and the absence of pain; by unhappiness, pain and the privation of pleasure.” (Mill, 7) Every human works toward achieving happiness and pleasure, while avoiding pain and suffering. Also actions are only good if they exult happiness and wrong if they promote pain or suffering. Mill argues with Utilitarianism that human pleasure and happiness should not be connected to baser pleasures of animals because humans have higher faculties of happiness than other animals as explained, “Human beings have faculties more elevated than the animal appetites and, when once made conscious of them, do not regard anything as happiness which does not include their gratification.” (Mill, 8) Singer would reject this notion stating that animals may have different pleasures and appetites, but it should not limit them from their inherent value and they should have equal consideration for happiness and quality of life. Even though normal humans may have higher faculties for pleasure and
Peter Singer is a man of careful reason and his belief is that all animals are equal. This means that animals have equal interests to humans and should have the same quality of life based on these interests. Singer believes that humans put their interests over other animals because they are intellectual and should have a better quality of life based on their ability to reason and have complex understanding, which other species lack. He calls this attitude towards non-humans, speciesism, which is the idea that being human is a good enough reason for human animals to have greater moral rights than non-human animals. This is a bias in favor of the interests of one’s own species and against those members of other …show more content…
Mill’s argument of Utilitarianism is a broad view that explains the base principle for morality is happiness. As stated, “the creed which accepts as the foundation of morals “utility” or “the greatest happiness principle” holds that actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness; wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness. By happiness is intended pleasure and the absence of pain; by unhappiness, pain and the privation of pleasure.” (Mill, 7) Every human works toward achieving happiness and pleasure, while avoiding pain and suffering. Also actions are only good if they exult happiness and wrong if they promote pain or suffering. Mill argues with Utilitarianism that human pleasure and happiness should not be connected to baser pleasures of animals because humans have higher faculties of happiness than other animals as explained, “Human beings have faculties more elevated than the animal appetites and, when once made conscious of them, do not regard anything as happiness which does not include their gratification.” (Mill, 8) Singer would reject this notion stating that animals may have different pleasures and appetites, but it should not limit them from their inherent value and they should have equal consideration for happiness and quality of life. Even though normal humans may have higher faculties for pleasure and