Western Philippines University

San Juan, Aborlan Palawan

College of Education

MORAL ISSUES AND CONTEMPORARY LIVING - BSED 3-C

LESSON 10 – LIVING TOGETHER WITH ANIMALS

10.1 -The Case for Animal Rights – (MAKE A REFLECTION FOR
THIS LESSON SEND THROUGH P.M)
November 3, 2014 at 7:44am by Mansi Arora

Reagan critiques/rejects three different ideas reefing to the rights and place of
Animals. In the indirect duty approach, humans have no duties towards animals,
but to other humans concerned because of animals. Regain argues this approach to
be invalid because torturing animals does not just hurt humans. In the second
approach he explained the cruelty kindness view. This view holds that our behavior
towards animals is fine as long as we aren’t cruel towards them. An action may be
kind but it may not be right either. Lastly, he describes the utilitarian approach.
This approach says that animal’s interests should be the same as human interests. It
also believes to do the act that best balances between satisfaction and frustration.
Reagan does however find to flaws with this view. It denies that individuals have
inherent values. And also that any action can be justified if the end result is good
(Aunt Bee example).
Reagan counters these views with his own thoughts. He argues that everyone
(including animals) has inherent value and that it is wrong to treat anyone with value as
a resource (exploit them). He also talks about right acts, which basically means treating
all individuals with respect and not using them for some other gain

What are Animal Rights?

As a person, you have some rights and don't have many other rights. At least in Western nations,
you have quite a few rights. You have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. You have
the right to leave the country and come back whenever you want. You don't have the right to steal.
You are not allowed to murder. You don't have the right to not pay your taxes if you've made enough
money this year.
Nonhuman animals, namely domesticated ones subject to our control, do not have any rights. They
may have laws that protect their welfare, or well-being, but they don't actually have rights like people
do. They don't have the right to choose where they live. They don't have the right to choose whether
they're used in research. They don't have the right to kill you either, of course.
Animal rights are about changing the status of a nonhuman animal (from now on just 'animal') from
a thing and into a 'legal person'. Currently, animals are considered property in the legal sense.