An in-depth paper which calls on the Jewish religion to stop focusing on animal rights and to start focusing on human duties and obligations towards animals.
Abstract This paper explores an alternative to fighting for animal rights, and instead advocates for a system of human duties and obligations based on Jewish Law. The paper analyzes the way Jewish law views cruelty to animals, the environment, and the obligation to take care of one's health. Jewish Law lays out a system of positive obligations that Man has towards animals, the environment, and his own health.
I. Introduction
II. Jewish Law and the Environment
A. The World and All in It Belongs To G-d and Man Is Responsible For Preserving It All
B. Animals Are Important to G-d
C. Bal Tashchit - The Prohibition on Wanton Destruction
D. Environmental Effects of Producing So Much Meat
III. Animals in Jewish Law
A. Animals as Property
B. Tza'ar Ba'aley Chayim and Positive Acts of Kindness
IV. Jewish Law and Health
A. The Importance of Maintaining Health in Jewish Law
B. Health and Vegetarianism
V. The Misunderstanding of the Importance Of Meat In Judaism
VI. Rabbis and Vegetarianism
VII. A Modern System of Duties and Obligations
A. Eating Meat and Dairy Products
B. Hunting, Trapping, and Furs
C. Animals in Entertainment
D. Animal Experimentation
E. Wildlife Conservation
VIII. Conclusion
From the Paper "We often talk about protecting animals and giving them their rights. Animal rights' activists argue about which rights are due to animals and which rights to animals are due to human beings. I argue that this dialogue is unhelpful to animals, just as it is unhelpful to human beings. Rather than argue about rights, I contend that we should construct a system of duties and obligations under which human beings will have varied responsibilities towards animals. Such a system already exists under Jewish law, a system devoid of human rights and animal rights, but rich with human responsibility and obligations towards mankind, animals, and the environment."
Abstract This paper is an argument against PETA's policies regarding the protection of animals at all cost. The author argues that PETA and animal rights activists' policies have led to inequality in the world, and that the poorer nations are suffering as a result of these policies. The author also argues, that there is an order to the world, and that animals and humans each play a specific role in this world order.
From the paper:
"However it's not acceptable at all for undeveloped or poor countries not having any of those advanced technologies. For instance, because of a lack of crops and vegetables, which results from not having advanced agricultural technology, people in poor and undeveloped countries need to get animals and eat their meat to survive. Besides, far from use and need, animals are like enemies to some tribal people. They have to fight with enemies, and they sometimes have to kill enemies in some cases. The policy of ?animal rights? is valid only for developed countries, and it indicates that such animal rights organizations like PETA mostly consist of people from advanced countries with great consideration for animals and no consideration for the needy elsewhere in the world."
Attempts to address the issue of animal rights by asking the question, from a humanistic perspective, "what potential exists for a healthy construct of the rights of animals?"
Abstract This paper briefly looks at the evolution of the Western world's views on the treatment of animals and how the lack of a agreement on what an animal precisely is causes difficulties in addressing the issue of animal rights. It goes on to present a debate on the issue of animal rights through three different perspectives: ethical relativism, utilitarianism, and ethical egoism.
Sentient Rights in a Solitary World
The Essential Problem of the Definitions
Framework of the Debate within this Context
Taking A Position -- Modified Personal Responsibility
Ethical Traditions Within The Framework
Summary
From the Paper "In recent years, the ethical issue of animal rights has seriously entered into the realm of philosophical debate. This in itself shows a change in perspective, for until relatively recently the issue was not even seriously broached by philosophers, save maybe in sport or to highlight the absurdity of a line of reasoning. However, increasingly within modern philosophy, the issue may be broached. While one would think that the demands of such philosophies as egoism and utilitarianism would subjugate the position of animals, it seems historically that the reverse has somewhat been true. The question then becomes, within a humanistic mind-set, what potential exists for a healthy construct of the rights of animals? The answer lies in comprehending the individual focus of these philosophies, and treating this issue not as one of social or legal mandate, but as one of personal cognizance."
Abstract This paper begins with a look at the history of animation, focusing special attention on the history of computer animation. The paper explains the advances in technology that have helped improve computer animation techniques and then takes a look at some of the ethical questions that have developed regarding the use of computer animation. The paper then discusses one of the primary concerns, the fear that this type of animation will replace real actors, and explains why actors really have no reason to feel threatened by computer animation.
From the Paper "Visual representation of ideas, history, and stories has been an important part of human culture since prehistoric times, when cave paintings and other primitive drawings were used to record and relive events. As human culture developed, so did the visual arts, and primitive cave paintings gave way to more complex drawings, paintings, and engravings that told stories ranging from epic mythological tales to a simple moment from daily life. While a talented artist has always been able to bring drawings "to life" and have a sense of movement in the work, actual animation has its roots in the 1800s. Devices such as the zoetrope, also known as the ?wheel of life,? were simple and used a cylinder with slits in the sides to make the drawings inside appear to move when a person peered through the sides as it spun."
Abstract The author of the paper relates the history of the Hanna Barbera animation studio. The writer examines the studio's founders and their activities prior to the founding of the studio and the factors that influenced the founding of the Hanna Barbera studio. The author then goes on to describe the development of the studio, the animation productions that brought the studio to the public eye and notable productions over the course of time. The paper's writer also examines animation techniques used by the studio and innovative use of sound, lighting and special effects. The paper concludes with an overview of the company's position today.
Outline:
Brief History of Both Hanna & Barbera and How Each Evolved as Animators How They Met or Joined Forces
What Profession Were They in Before Becoming Animators?
How They Started the Company of Hanna Barbera
What Made Hanna Barbera a Success?
What Cartoons They Created
Process of Animation They Used
Special Effects, Techniques, Lighting, & Sound Effects That Were Used
The Position of the Company Today
References
From the Paper "When MGM closed its animation unit, Hanna and Barbera founded Hanna-Barbera Cartoons Inc., their own production company. The company was known for its magical formula of producing low cost cartoons that focused more on humor, story and characters than on action. The company gained success with the production of 'The Flintstones'. In the year 1980, the company started operating globally by distributing the work through its international network. The Hanna Barbera Company was staffed with the members of MGM animation unit. In order to keep Hanna Barbera productions a secret to the MGM officials, the show 'I Love Lucy' was anonymously promoted. Hanna Barbera made $40000-$60000 for Tom and Jerry shots as compared to $2700 given by Screen Gems for a cartoon having duration of 5 minutes. This forced them to think about earning more profit by reviving the whole cartoon concept. They shifted the focus from visual action, which was followed at MGM, to dialogue and story. They made cartoons which were cheaper by limiting the amount of drawings. However it was not a fruitful solution to remain competitive in the industry. Then the introduction of voices to the cartoons was intended to gain the interest of the audience. In 1957, Daws Butler and Don Messick gave voice to the characters of Ruff and Ready. This enabled the company to produce shows in less time, thereby increasing the sales and enriching the development of the shows. Later the company was sold to Great American Broadcasting in 1987 when there was a slow growth witnessed, and later Turner Broadcasting purchased it in 1991. Turner Broadcasting later merged with Time-Warner Inc. In 1992, Turner started 24-hour cartoon network with Hanna Barbera cartoon series. (History of Hanna Barbera Cartoons Inc)"
Tags:animators film sound movie cartoons turner mgm studio, the flintstones, time-warner television
Abstract The paper describes that anime is, in essence, the Japanese form of animation. The writer explains that in general, anime is characterized by extremely stylized and colorful graphics and the use of vivacious and vibrant colors. The graphics used depict energetic and effervescent characters that are set in a large number of scenes and settings. Numerous story lines are used that are aimed at a variety of different types of audiences. The paper discusses that in English, the word 'anime' actually transliterates a Japanese term, and its history of origin can be traced back to the abbreviation of the transliteration of the English word 'animation', into Japanese.
From the Paper "Why has anime been so very successful? How has it become globalized today? A major part of the reason for the popularity of anime is that it has managed to spread all throughout the world, and everyone knows what it is. As in the general case where something that spreads all over the world quite naturally becomes a global phenomenon, global recognition and fame means that anime has now become a global occurrence and it is well loved by people other than from whose nation it originally was created. One must study the extent of the globalization of anime based on the amount of permeation or penetration into other societies that it has managed to achieve in recent times. This also means that one must look carefully at and analyze the numerous factors involved in why exactly anime became a global phenomenon, and this would in turn mean that one would be able to comprehend how it became so very popular among a large variety of people, all over the world."
Abstract This essay examines many of the issues associated with the consumption of animals for food. It is argued that this practice is flawed from two perspectives: ethically and as an issue of human health. As the writer shows in this article, from the perspective of ethics the only supportable position is to refuse to consume animals for food while, from a health perspective, the clear dangers from animals fats and, in particular, the transmission of toxic pollutants from animals to humans suggests that the consumption of animals for food carries with it considerable health risks for the human species.
From the Paper "In September 2001 the well-known animal rights organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) sponsored a billboard in Vancouver, British Columbia that triggered widespread controversy within the environmental and animal rights movement. The billboard read, simply: "Eat the Whales". Not surprisingly, this advertisement provoked a heated response from many environmentalists and, in particular, from the influential anti-whaling movement. However, PETA was unrepentant and argued that their advertisement made an important point: why do so many people, including environmentalists and anti-whaling activists, make distinctions between species and consider eating domestic pigs, cows or chickens permissible but whales, dolphins or seals abhorrent?"
A description of Jacques Derrida's attitude towards the term "animal" and examination of the viewpoints of Martin Heidegger and Jacques Lacan regarding this term.
Abstract This paper examines how Derrida applies his process of deconstruction to the term "animal." It looks at how Derrida asserts that "animal" and "human" did not always represent two distinct categories; rather, there are humans, mice, monkeys, snakes, etc., and a human is no more different from a mouse than a snake is from an elephant. The paper also discusses how, when Judeo-Christian thought became dominant, the concept of "the animal" came into existence as an absolute other and, with this linguistic separation, came a psychical divide that caused us to lose touch with the dark, mysterious, "animal" which resides deep inside of ourselves.
Outline:
Introduction
Derrida On Lacan: The Animal Cannot Cover Up Its Tracks. But Can The Human?
The Seer
The Great Disavowal
From the Paper "An animal's relationship to the world is limited by its "disinhibitors" - its inner drives that render it completely passive to its bodily demands. Heidegger calls this state of passivity "captivation." The animal is completely at one with its disinhibitor - it does not have the reflexive ability to step back from its drives and perceive that it is controlled by them. Because it cannot see outside of its "disinhibiting ring," it only perceives the world insofar as it relates to its own instinctual demands. Not being able to escape this state of stupefaction, objects only exist for the animal in relation to its present needs. Unable to step out of its disinhibiting ring, it cannot perceive objects as existing in themselves, as more than a means to serve the ends of its disinhibitors. Passivity with respect to its disinhibitor implies passivity with respect to objects in the world - it must use and perceive them only insofar as its disinhibiting ring requires. "
Abstract This paper briefly discusses the moral and legal issues to do with animal rights in the United States. A short history on the American Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) is included in the paper. The author also points out the link between cruelty to animals particularly amongst youths and serial killers. The author singles out Hawaii as the most recent state to adopt stricter criminal penalties for animal cruelty and at the same time, urges other states to progress in their cultural attitude and impose stricter penalties on barbaric torture of animals.
Outline:
Background and History
The Current State of Criminal Legislation and Future Recommendations
References
From the Paper "Throughout history, man has used animals for food, for their strength to
accomplish mechanical tasks and for the raw materials for everything from winter clothing to tools and weapons. Man, unfortunately, also has a long history of inhumanity to his fellow man, and of cruelty to animals. In much of the rest of the world, cultural attitudes reflect a continuing insensitivity to animals, working them to death, and hunting them to extinction for decorative ivory and superstitious uses of their ground up bones, or harvesting one part such as by hauling them from the water to slice off their fins before tossing them back into the water to sink to the ocean floor and drown."
Abstract This paper explores animals' abilities to sense electricity and magnetism and their ability to use these qualities as part of their sensory machinery. The author examines the type of electrical energy that certain animals release and provides examples.
From the paper:
"Imagine what it would be like if you were able to sense electric and magnetic fields. You would be able predict when a bad lightning storm was coming and orient yourself in the right direction if you were lost in the woods. Although such abilities only exist in fantasy for humans, many animals? posses these abilities in real life. In this paper we will explore the fascinating ability of certain animals to use electricity and magnetism as part of their sensory machinery."
Abstract This paper deals with the way animals think. It also deals with the issue of using animals for university experiments. It examines whether or not animals possess the prerequisite physical ability to sustain thought, from both a scientific and ethical point of view. It details several studies that have been done on the matter and states their conclusions. It concludes that if we consider that animals do have similar physiological organs of thought, and do regularly display behavior similar to human behavior, then there should be no discriminating against them and their ability to think.
From the Paper 37"The question is often repeated, "Do animals think, in the same way that we do"? It is a question which for most part comes loaded with significance and prejudice. If it is true that animals think, like humans do, and feel pain and happiness, and desire, then the logical conclusion is that they must be treated with a certain respect. Much of Western culture depends on the use of animals in a fashion not compatible with the ethical demands of sentence. Unfortunately for the science of animal psychology, most researchers on the subjects have a vested interest in coming to the conclusion that their subjects (which have likely not been treated in a human[e] fashion over the course of the experiments) are not thinking beings. ? ?We were taught as undergraduates not to think of animals as other than stimulus-response bundles,? asserts Melanie Stiassney, an ichthyologist at the American Museum of Natural History. ?The dogma is you can't credit them with feelings.? ? (Mukerjee) One must ask, though, how such a pre-decided pool of scientists can treat the question of animal thought fairly? To be fair, one must divorce the answer from its ethical implications, and simply ask: "Why not"? If animals possess physiology parallel to that which gives rise to human thought, if they display behavior consistent with such awareness, then (if one disregards the demands of hubris and the fear of guilt) the scientist must admit at least the definite possibility of animal thought."
Abstract This paper discusses the negative effects of high intake of animal products and strongly suggests that intake of such foods be curtailed. It has been found that high consumption of animal-derived food can result in health problems including coronary diseases and certain types of cancer. While human being need animal-products because they are a good source of important minerals and vitamins, medical doctors have found that the many health problems are directly related to high intake of such food and lower consumption of healthier food such vegetables and fruits.
This paper discusses that the author's universal themes, digestible tone, and crafty use of language make George Orwell's novel, "Animal Farm", a great satirical and literary work.
Abstract This paper explains that the basic plot of "Animal Farm" closely parallels that of the Russian Revolution: The animals on Manor Farm in Hertfordshire, England (the place of Orwell's birth) are dissatisfied with the negligent treatment they are receiving from Farmer Jones. The author points out that one major theme of this story is the sad, but often true, story of evil triumphing over the good: In the end, although the animals have fought and worked for their freedom, oppression reigns. The paper contends that Orwell is well-versed in the art of effective storytelling because Orwell's writing is simple yet descriptive and can be read and comprehended by the less advanced reader.
From the Paper "Orwell's language techniques continue in his careful name-choice for a number of the vital characters. Moses, the trained raven, represents the Church. He tells the animals about Sugarcandy Mountain where all animals go after death, delivering a religious message to the people just as his namesake did in the Bible. Napoleon, the great dictator pig, is named aptly after the French emperor, representing Stalin and Hitler in his totalitarian leadership. Squealer represents the newspapers and propagandists of the day who played spin doctor to report the news of the leaders in a palatable form that calms the masses, regardless of the truth of the events. A less obvious name choice is that of Frederick, who is named after Frederick the Great, who was strongly admired by Hitler."
Abstract This paper is about the ethics of animal rights and using animals for medical experiments and to test products (eye makeup etc.). The paper uses a case analysis approach involving "The Body Shop" cosmetics and personal care company.
From the Paper "This case analysis is concerned with a decision by a company operating in the cosmetics and personal care products industry to reject the use of research and testing involving non human animals in the development and manufacture of products sold by the company. The company at the focus of this case analysis is "The Body Shop". This case analysis assesses the issues surrounding this decision from a perspective of ethical systems and theory."
Abstract This paper discusses two attitudes toward animal testing in medical research, one desirous of ending such testing and the other supporting such testing. According to this paper, those who support such testing also hold that animals have moral significance, but that human beings have to be given more consideration than do animals, so therefore testing to end human diseases needs to be conducted.
From the Paper "The use of animals in medical research has been much criticized for many years. In 1955, the Humane Society of the United States passed a resolution noting that at least 50,000,000 animals were used each year in American laboratories, many in ways causing great and prolonged pain and suffering, many inhumanely housed and cared for. The resolution stated that it was the moral duty of every human society to inform itself about these matters and to take all possible action to prevent cruelty to these animals. Because of this, the Humane Society undertook a systematic study of the use and care of animals in laboratories (Humane Society of the United States 1). After the study by the Humane Society, the group concluded that animal research was a problem and that efforts should be taken to stop it."
