29th Annual Student Research Conference
What is the Moral Value of an Animal?
Lucas J. Johnson
Dr. David Murphy, Faculty Mentor
The Animal Rights Movement in its modern form was arguably started in 1975, when Peter Singer published the book Animal Liberation. In his book Singer put forth several powerful arguments against the way we consume, experiment, and treat animals from a utilitarian framework. Singer believed that we are morally required to become vegetarians so long as we can get our nutritional needs met elsewhere. Many philosophers have mounted arguments against Singer, but most of those come from outside the ethical framework he uses. In my paper I will examine the arguments made by a fellow utilitarian R.G. Frey, who is comparatively permissive toward our treatment of animals. Through an examination of both philosophers I aim to defend the moral possibility of ethical consumption within a utilitarian framework.
Keywords: Ethics, Animals, Utilitarianism, Singer, Frey, Vegetarianism
Topic(s):Philosophy & Religion
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: -3
Location: MG 2050
Time: 10:00