3rd Oral Exam

Should animals have rights?

Animal rights activism is based on the idea that animals are sentient and that speciesism is
wrong, the former of which is scientifically backed, when a panel of neuroscientists in 2012
declared that non-human animals have consciousness.

The reason that people have rights is to prevent unjust suffering. But speciesism, like racism and
sexism, is wrong because animals popular in the meat industry like cows, pigs and chickens suffer
when confined, tortured and slaughtered and there is no reason to morally distinguish between
humans and non-human animals.

What kind of right should animals have?

According to the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights, human rights include:
the right to life, liberty and security, an adequate standard of living, and the right to freedom for
torture and degrading treatment, among others.

So, non-human animals should be benefited from those rights without exception.

Animals like entertainment

Almost all of us grew up eating meat, wearing leather, and going to circuses and zoos. We never
considered the impact of these actions on the animals involved.

Amusement? Circuses, zoos, aquariums, dog fighting, hunting, fishing, horse racing, bullfighting.
These practices keep animals in captivity and use them against their will for human
entertainment.