Animal Rights in Philosophy

Essay # 53706

Ethics
Philosophy
Philosophy > Ethics

Presents the issue of animal rights supported through philosophy.

2,119 words () | 11 sources | MLA | 2004 United States

Paper Summary:

Humanism is a set of presuppositions that assigns to human beings a special position in the scheme of things. Not just a school of thought or a collection of specific beliefs or doctrines, humanism is rather a general perspective from which the world is viewed. That perspective received a gradual yet persistent articulation during different historical periods and continues to furnish a central leitmotif of Western civilization. It resists the tendency to treat humanity scientifically as part of the natural order on par with other living organisms. This is the position put forth in the paper to support the author's stance on advocating animal rights. Humanists attribute crucial importance to education, conceiving of it as an all-around development of personality and individual talents, marrying science to poetry and culture to democracy. The paper shows that such philosophies as egoism, utilitarianism, and ethical relativism all seem to lend a hand in supporting this ethical topic.

From the Paper:

"Utilitarianism draws together more exactly to the nurturing of the human consciousness. It concentrates on "utility in the largest sense, grounded on the permanent interests of man as a progressive being?" (Mill, 92). Progression, of course, is seen as a slow development towards being more and more socially enlightened, more attuned to the greater good. Gandhi writes: "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated". (Dyer & Dyer). Utilitarianism suggests the greatest happiness for all. If one assumes that animals are indeed consciences then they might be included in this over-arching all, and certainly that would defend their rights."