Regan Flashcards Preview

Environmental Ethics > Regan > Flashcards

Flashcards in Regan Deck (28)
Loading flashcards...
1
Q

2 approaches to animal ethics

A
  1. Utilitarian consequentialism

2. Deontological RIGHTS

2
Q

Utilitarian consequentialism

A

an action is right if it maximizes the overall pleasures of all affected. Everyone’s pains and pleasures count! SINGER

3
Q

Deontological RIGHTS

A

If x has a RIGHT then y has an obligation to not do something to x (take x’s life).
- Actions that violate RIGHTS are wrong IN THEMSELVES. RIGHTS holders cannot be used by others as mere means or resources. REGAN

4
Q

Regan’s Big Challenge

A
  • “The fundamental wrong is the system that allows us to view animals as our resources . .” (106)
  • Changing beliefs before you change your habits (107).
  • Moral status of animals needs to be directly discussed.
  • Extending the concept of respect and dignity. Remember Shue?
5
Q

Regan’s conclusion

A

Total abolition of animal use in science, agriculture, and commercial hunting.

6
Q

Direct duty views

A

say that we owe animals duties—we can “wrong them” and “right them.” They matter inherently.

7
Q

Indirect duty views

A

We owe nothing to animals—we cannot do wrongs to them (107).

8
Q

Any duties that we might have to animals are the result of a direct duties owed to humans.

A

Examples: pets, farm animals etc.

9
Q

How do you justify this indirect duty view?

A

One answer: contractarianism (108).

10
Q

Contractarianism

A
  • Morality is a set of rules that individuals voluntarily agree to abide by.
  • Those who made the agreements have direct duties to each other. Anyone not part of the contract is not owed direct duties.
11
Q

Problems

A
  • Those outside the “contract” not protected (108).
  • Ideal contract views—Rawls’ veil of ignorance—leave out the non-rational humans.
  • Contract view might say animals are like children. Get protection only if people have sentimental interests in them (108-109).
12
Q

Cruelty-Kindness Views

A
  • Morally right action is motivated by kindness, wrong action is motivated by cruelty.
  • What is Regan’s problem with such views, especially as they pertain to animal ethics? (109).
    The “kind racist.”
13
Q

Utilitarianism

A

actions are right insofar as they maximize overall happiness

14
Q

Utilitarianism has no room for

A

the equal moral rights of different individuals because it has no room for their equal inherent value or worth” (110). Assess this claim.

15
Q

Rights View

A
  • Individuals have equal inherent value (111).
  • If x has inherent value, then x has value independent of its usefulness to others.
    Intrinsic versus extrinsic value.
  • Worthy of respect.
16
Q

Who Gets Inherent Value?

A

All subjects of a life have equal inherent (intrinsic value)–they cannot be used as means for others’ ends.
What is a “subject-of-a-life?

17
Q

Subjects of a Life (1)

A

Beliefs, desires, sense of the future, psycho-physical identity over time. Subjects of a life have life that can be made better or worse for them (112).

18
Q

Subjects of a Life (2)

A

Being a subject of a life is sufficient for having EQUAL INHERENT VALUE=value independent of use for others.

19
Q

Subjects of a Life (3)

A

Morally obligated to treat individuals with inherent value with RESPECT (e.g., individuals with inherent value have RIGHTS not to be harmed).

20
Q

Why not another source for inherent value?

A
  • Intelligence?: what about marginal humans? ( 112).

- Souls?: maybe they exist, but controversial question to settle who has or does not have one.

21
Q

Where do we draw the line?

A

Don’t need to know everything that has it in order to know much that does. (112).

22
Q

Don’t need to know everything that has it in order to know much that does. (112).

A

R affirms this: If a being is a subject of a life, then it has inherent value.
R leaves this uncertain: If a being has inherent value, then it is a subject of a life.

23
Q

Moral agents versus moral patients

A

Both are subjects of a life.

Both have rights!

24
Q

Agent

A

can apply impartial moral principles to conduct.

25
Q

Patient

A

cannot do right or wrong (but right or wrong can be done to them).

26
Q

Final Four Points

A
  • Not antagonistic to the human rights movement.
  • Abolitionist approach to current uses of animals
  • Philosophy has limits: offers us a vision.
  • Philosophy is a disciplined passion.
27
Q

The Mini-ride Principle

A

Respect each rights holder equally. When we must choose between overriding the rights of the many or the rights of the few, and the harms are comparable, then we should override the rights of the few.

28
Q

The Worse-Off Principle

A

when we must decide to override the rights of the many or the rights of the few (innocents), and the when the harm faced by the few would make them worse-off than the many, then we ought to override the rights of the MANY.