Animal Suffering, and Why it Matters

A collection of vocabulary flashcards focused on key concepts related to animal suffering and ethics as discussed in the lecture on environmental philosophy.

Animal Suffering

The experience of pain or distress by nonhuman animals, raising moral considerations about their treatment.

Sentience

The capacity to suffer and/or experience enjoyment, considered a key property for moral standing.

Moral Standing

The status of an entity that allows it to be the subject of moral consideration and direct duties.

Speciesism

The assumption of human superiority leading to the exploitation of nonhuman animals.

Utilitarianism

A moral theory that advocates for actions that promote the greatest happiness for the greatest number.

Direct Moral Duties

Obligations owed directly to a morally significant entity, such as a sentient being.

Skepticism in Animal Consciousness

The philosophical doubt over whether nonhuman animals possess consciousness or mental states.

Indirect Moral Duties

Moral obligations that are not owed directly to an entity, often based on responsibilities to other entities.

Malebranche's View

The claim that nonhuman animals are mindless mechanisms that do not experience desires or consciousness.

Endogenous Opioids

Natural substances in the body that alleviate pain; their presence in animals suggests potential for experiencing pain.

Nociceptors

Sensory receptors that respond to damaging or potentially damaging stimuli, indicative of the ability to feel pain.

Preference Utilitarianism

A form of utilitarianism that considers the satisfaction of preferences as a measure of moral value.

Moral Obligations to Animals

The duties humans have to consider the interests of animals in moral decision-making.

Factory Farming

Intensive animal farming practices that often lead to significant suffering and poor living conditions for animals.

Pain and Suffering in Animals

Behaviors and physiological responses that indicate nonhuman animals may experience pain similarly to humans.