Welfare MT 1

mandated science

society requires scientists to evaluate + address how human activities have an effect on animals

not like other sciences, it was forced because of questions from society, law, consumers, and industry

ancient greece

aristotle, pythagoras, plutarch

rationality, kinship, capacity to suffer

views on animals strongly influence by philosophy and reason

aristotle’s beliefs

rationality determines values

humans considered superior bc they posses rational thought

animals exist for humans, they are understood in relationship to humans

views nature as hierarchical

pythagoras’ beliefs

kinship, the animal craves companionship

considering animals relationships with each others and humans as value

humans and animals are connected, share nature, beings worthy of consideration

believed animals + humans connected, avoid harm to animals

plutarch beliefs

animals deserve consideration bc they experience suffering

animals deserve moral consideration bc they feel suffering

challenged idea that humans can treat animals however

18/19th century europe

inc, focus on animal use/ cruelty/ industrialization

scale of animal use inc., up to humans to be responsible

questions abt if human benefits justify animal suffering

shift from whether animals are rational to whether they can suffer

kinship

humans and animals are connected thru shared nature

they hv similarities, humans shld recognize animals as beings deserving of consideration

ex. pythagoras supported avoiding harm to animals

rationality

moral consideration depends on on whether being possesses reason/intelligence/ rational thought

historically used to argue humans hv greater moral status than animals

cant be true bc of children, disabled people

capacity to suffer

moral consideration shld depend on whether animal can suffer/feel pain

animal doesnt need to reason like humans to deserve consideration

ex. Jeremy Benthem: important question is whether animals suffer

stoics

emphasized human rationality, generally placed humans above animals, animals not viewed as possessing same rational/moral status

reason/self-control

epicureans

pleasure and pain avoidance, animals can feel sensations

pleasure/ pain most important aspects of life

porphyry

strong animal advocate, against eating animals, unnecessary killing

connected animals treatment w justice/morality, supported vegetarianism

william hogarth

artist depicted the development of cruelty

4 stages of cruelty: 1 to animals, 2 greater cruelty, 3 cruelty toward animals, 4 punishment/consequences

jeremy bentham

utilitarian philosopher

moral importance connected to suffering/pleasure

animals deserve consideration bc they can suffer

minimize suffering maximizing wellbeing/pleasure

gandhi

advocated compassion + avoiding unnecessary harm, vegetarianism

treatment of animals is reflection of society’s moral character

ruth harrison

criticized intensive/industrial animal agriculture

drew attention to welfare problems created by intense work

helped simulate modern animal welfare production systems

*sparked Bramble Committee + 5 freedoms

pastorlism

close relationship btwn humans, animals, nature

animals are part of natural landscape

emphasis on simplicity, nature, harmony, traditional animal-human kinship

animals can be used by humans naturally/respectfully

art with sheep, animals, nature, shepherds

agrarianism

agriculture is central to human life

humans have relationship w land and animals thru animals used for food, labor, clothing, stewardship

animals are key part of productive ag community

industrialism

animals viewed for production/industrial efficiency

confinement system, intense poultry production, high-output livestock

potential welfare concern: animals viewed as production units not individual

romanticism

intrinsic value, emotional conxn, art w nature and animals

animals appreciated for beauty, individuality, wildness, emotion

animals/nature valued beyond usefulness to humans

peter singer

utilitarianism: action is right if promotes happiness, minimize suffering

greatest happiness for the greatest number

equality isn’t equal treatment, its equal consideration

capacity for suffering vital for equal consideration

speciesism: favor interests of certain and against others

singers definition of animal welfare

consideration of interests of sentient beings, although focus should be to max happiness and min suffering, at the cost of what other species

tom regan critique of singer and utilitariamism

critiques utilitarianism bc it doesnt recognize value of individuals

permits harming individual to benefit group, hard to apply max happiness bc how do you measure across group

can justify morally wrong action if overall outcome benefits majority

tom regan

inherent value: indivual has value outside of usefulness to humans

value isn’t determined by what humans want/need

conscious subjects of life with preference, pleasure, pain, expectations with a life that matters!

Regans definition of animal welfare

required respecting animals as individuals w inherent values and rights instead of resources

bernard rollin critique of regan and singer

cant just focus on pain and suffering

important to recognize what particular animals nature/ wants/ desired

diff animals have diff things that matter to them

bernard rollin

TELOS: critques regan/singer bc animals can have preference to ENJOY

to enjoy life by making it as natural and comfortable for them

ex. perch for cat, they can survey territory, express feline behavior

chickens can feel secure, leave ground hide from predators

TELOS

providing good quality life as per each animals

limits: can’t sacrifice one animals telos for another (ex. tiger x donkey)

making animal behavior more natural isn’t automatically better if it can cause harm, pain, distress

TELOS daity calf example

group housing led to benefits; inc. grain intake, daily avg weight gain

downside: causes cross-suckling, inc. diseases + udder problems

solution: electronic feeding system w nipples to prevent cross-suckling

Bernard Rollins philosophy

animals should live happy lives that are consistent with their nature when possible if humans are choosing to interfere

which of the four schools of thoughts goes against TELOS

industrialism

Aldo Leopold

land ethic, human responsibility to take care of nature, preserve ecology + biodiversity

action is right when proving stability of biotic community, including plants animals soil water

conservation

effort to understand and preserve ability of land to self-renew

Think like a mountain

long term ecological consequences

leopoldo thought fewer wolves → more deer → better hunting

recognizes this hurts ecosystem

tropic cascade

remove one group, bad effect on all other groups

soils/decomposers → primary producers (photosynthesis) → primary consumers (herbivores) → Secondary consumers (omnivores) → tertiary consumers (top carnivores)

Leopolds definition

maintaining ecological strength is the best form of animal and ecological welfare, consider every aspect of life before considering harming/removing/interfering with one aspect

The Bramble Committee

1965 response to Ruth Harrisons animal machines

uk gov’t commissioned bramble committee to investigate animal welfare

Farm Animal Welfare Advisory COmmittee

created in response to bramble and colleagues report to monitor livestock prodxn sector

recommendations outlines in bramble report refined in 1979 known as five freedoms

Five freedoms

original animal welfare drew more used for development of many welfare laws

hunger and thirst

pain, injury, and disease

fear and distress

discomfort

to express normal behavior

freedom from hunger and thirst

by ready access to fresh water and diet to maintain healthy and vigor

ex. limit-feeding gestation sows: improves reproductive performance, sows are hungry and have abnormal behaviors

freedom from discomfort

provide appropriate environment including shelter and comfortable resting area

ex. chickens inside/outside have diff elements with diff benefits

freedom from pain, injury, disease

by prevention or rapid diagnosis/treatment

ex. pain control during tail docking

docking benefits: improves reproductive performance hygiene, reduce fly strike, improve efficacy for routine shearing

most common method in us is elastrator, but no regulation requiring anesthetic or analgesic in young lambs

freedom to express normal/natural behavior

by providing diffidence space, proper facilities, species companionship

ex. pig socialization in 2024: required 24 square feet per pig

new challenge: competition feeding but also limit feed, auto-feed solution

freedom from fear and distress

ensure conditions and treatment avoiding mental suffering

low stress handling: new pen designs to improve animal movement

i.e. tempe grandin

critique of 5 freedoms

lacks important concepts such as addressing all areas of animal emotions of needs and needs for experiences