Study Question 7

What does Regan mean by subject of a life

He argues that a being has inherent value when it is an experiencing individual whose life can go better or worse for that individual. Value does not depend on its usefulness to others or on how intelligent, capable or productive it is

What does regan feela bout indirect and direct duties

He believes if animals are subjects of a life, and possess inherent value, then we have direct duties toward them. Their lives matter to them. Indirect duties fail to recognize that animals matter in their own right

What are the indirect duty views Regan rejects

• Skepticism about animal sentience

• Denying the moral importance of animal sentience

• Crude contractarianism

• Rawlsian contractarianism

Why does regan reject the indirect duty view of Denying animal sentience

Because there is substantial evidence that animals are sentient. Also denying animal sentience creates a problem for understanding other humans sentience’s as we understand it through behavior and evidence as well

Why does Regan reject the indirect duty view of Acepting animal sentience but denying its moral importance

Because pain matters wherever it occurs. If causing pain to a human is wrong because of the suffering it causes, we cannot simply dismiss an animal’s suffering as morally irrelevant

What is crude contractarianism

An indirect duty view towards animals where only those able to understand and agree to the contract are direct participants and animals and vulnerable humans may be protected only because others care about them

Why does Regan reject the indirect duty view of crude contractarianism

Because it forces the protection of animals to become dependent on the interests of others. People who are not loved or valued by those who can agree in contracts could be left unprotected

What is the indirect duty view of Rawlsian contractarianism

It attempts to prevent bias by having people choose principles of justice without knowing their own social position or personal characteristics

Why does Regan reject the indirect duty view of Rawlsian contractarianism

He thinks it still fails to recognize direct duties to humans who lack a sense of justice like young children. If we can wrong these people directly, why not animals

What is the cruelty kindness view for direct duties to animals

We have direct duties to avoid cruelty and show kindness to animals

Why does regan reject the cruelty kindness view for direct duties

Kindness does not guarantee that an action is morally right and avoiding cruelty does not guarantee justice. A person could be kind to individual animals but support a system that harms them

What is Regans rights view for our duties to animals

He argues that subjects of a life possess inherent value and it does depend on their usefulness to others. He argues that individuals who possess inherent value possess it equally. It also places limits on what we can do to individual animals unlike act utilitarianism

What is regans opinion on his rights views implications for animal use

These practices may cause suffering or involve poor welfare but even if they were treated more humanely, the practices would still be wrong because they instrumentalize individuals who possess inherent value

How does Regan feel about animal experimentation

He is an abolitionist saying animals must not be used as tools for scientific progress or human health benefits because doing so treats them as instruments and violates their rights.

How does Regan feel about commerical animal agriculture

He supports abolition as animals should not be bred, raised, and killed merely as resources for human consumption