Virtue Ethics And Aristotle's Theory Of Virtue Ethics

Thousands of dogs and cats enter animal shelters everyday without the hope of ever leaving. They often end up in these shelters due to the owner’s lack of responsibility or ability to care for the animal; many become lost and wander the streets until found, while others are the result of irresponsible backyard breeding. Shelters euthanize millions of these animals every year in the U.S. due to the lack of adoption because a large number of people would prefer to buy a pet from a pet store or private breeder causing the shelters to overflow with unwanted animals. Adopting a pet is an action that everyone should practice, or at least give great consideration to. I argue that by performing this action, we will not only bring ourselves satisfaction …show more content…
He believed that a life worth living was one that practiced both pure reason and practical reason. He defined practical reason as the rationale concerned with actions in both personal and civic life. In order to practice practical reason you need to have the correct virtues that will lead to your happiness and flourishing. Aristotle had his own idea of which virtues would lead to this human flourishing, which is often debated by philosophers. Although Aristotle did not consider virtues, like compassion and truthfulness, to be of great importance, his theory of virtue ethics can be applied today to justify my reasoning why people should consider adopting a pet rather than buying one. By having the virtue of compassion (which many consider to be of great significance in today’s society), you feel compelled to help others, both human and non-human, when you see them suffering. I argue that you should use your compassion to help save a dog or cat from a life of suffering and give them a life worth living while contributing to your own happiness and overall well being at the same time. Adopting a pet not only offers you satisfaction in knowing you performed a good deed but also helps to fight depression and loneliness, which will contribute to your ability to …show more content…
One counter argument someone may make is that shelter dogs are sickly and often prone to illness. I can see how someone could make this misguided assumption. For example, it is true that in shelters, dogs have a higher chance of contracting kennel cough. But the great thing about shelters and rescue groups is that they often catch the ailment quickly and are much more likely to treat the animal before they are adopted out. At the very least, shelters are obligated to disclose all known history of the animal to potential adopters, whereas businesses interested mainly in making a profit, do not. Animals that are bought from pet stores and private breeders often go untreated as well. Many of the puppies sold from these privately owned businesses are the product of puppy mills. Puppy mills are large scale breeding operations that do not maintain humane conditions and often put the idea of profit before the welfare of the animal. These dogs therefore are actually more likely to develop long-term illnesses that aren’t as easily treatable, as well as psychological conditions that result from their inhumane