Contrary to the beliefs of the radical fringe of the animal rights movement, that moral burden does not require that we all become vegetarians to avoid eating other animals. It simply means that we have an objective ethical obligation to take reasonable steps to avoid causing the species we choose to consume any more trauma and physical pain than absolutely necessary. This principle actually predates modern society as it is evident in the laws practiced by Jews, for one example, since before the Common Era.
While certain elements of Jewish dietary laws pertain to distinguishing by species which animals are permissible to eat, other elements of the Jewish tradition of kashrus relate only to the conditions under which animals authorized for human consumption must be killed. Generally, those religious laws prescribe specific procedures to ensure a painless and quick death, including the methods of sharpening the knife used for slaughter and the exact stroke used by an individual trained in the art (Tripp 2003).
Many human societies have traditionally ignored any such moral issues, most notably, numerous parts of Asia where practices that would be considered absolutely horrific and criminal in the U.S. are still perpetuated rather routinely. In the poorer sections of Taiwan, it is still possible to purchase meat that is taken right off a living donkey or mule; in fact, the animals are literally cooked bit by bit. Patrons pay for a selected portion, such as a flank, and a bucket of scalding water is poured over that area before the cooked flesh is sliced from the restrained animal (Tripp 2003).
In Japan, chefs practice the art of cooking live fish over low heat so gradually that they manage to serve it cooked and still writhing in pain as it arrives on the dinner plate.
In both China and Japan, St. Bernard dogs are raised for human consumption because that particular breed is very large and muscular. Instead of raising the dogs humanely, they are purposely traumatized because of the belief that the adrenalin released by fear causes their meat to be more tender and succulent. They are brutalized during slaughter instead of killed humanely for the same reason. In many southern American states, steers endure having their testicles purposely cut off just before their slaughter for the same reasons. As cruel as these practices are, there is absolutely no scientific evidence that any of the underlying reasoning for these practices is even remotely true factually (Tripp
2003).
Establishing Logically Valid Criteria for Humane Standards by Species:
Whereas many in this part of the world recognize the obvious difference between the most egregious examples of animal cruelty and appropriate ethical standards, they are stymied in their efforts to understand the finer distinctions that apply. In that regard, one of the most often-cited focus seems to be on the initial selection of species as fit for human consumption or not, instead of on standards and practices that relate to the animals authorized by law and societal mores for human consumption.
The problem with that perspective is simply that any survey of cultures worldwide reveals that human cultures differ substantially in this respect and that the designation of animals as being fit or unfit for human consumption is primarily a function of tradition and socialization and not objective ethical principles of any kind. In most of the U.S. The consumption of dogs and cats is regarded as barbaric, regardless of any issues of humane treatment or slaughter. Meanwhile, Americans consume pigs and cows by the millions every year, despite the fact that pigs, in particular, are no less intelligent than the smartest dogs and no less capable of forming bonded companionships with humans when given the chance (Bright 1994; Moussaieff-Masson 1995).
To the objective ethicist, the disparate treatment of swine and canine in American society is incapable of being resolved logically. In fact, the horror that would be associated with stripped dog and cat limbs hanging in the butcher shop window while cow meat and ham hocks evoke no such reaction at all is purely a matter of social learning and subjectivity. In truth, the humane slaughter of dogs and cats for food is less morally offensive by any logically consistent criteria than the inhumane slaughter of cow, pigs, and horses.
Establishing Logically Valid Criteria for Humane Standards by Intelligence:
One of the other most common criteria suggested for distinguishing ethical dietary practices with regard to consuming animal species relates to their intelligence (Winter 2002). In that respect, animals that humans consider highly intelligent, such as primates and dolphin are believed to be...
Sharks Are Dangerous to People: Finally, with respect to the argument that sharks constitute a genuine danger because they often attack and eat human beings, that point is both inaccurate and simplistic. Sharks actually avoid human beings except where drawn to us, either by the scent of blood in the water or perceptible signs of physical stress, both of which they evolved over many millions of years to detect (Perrine 1995).
Christian Biotechnology: Not a Contradiction in Terms Presented with the idea of "Bioethics" most people in the scientific community today immediately get the impression of repressive, Luddite forces wishing to stifle research and advancement in the name of morality and God. Unfortunately, this stereotype too often holds true. If one looks over the many independent sites on the Internet regarding bioethics, reads popular magazines and publications, or browses library shelves for
Animal Welfare Assurance Organizations Animal welfare: Assurance organizations Organization 1: Manes and Tails Mission (Hoboken, NJ) Manes and Tails Mission, located in Hoboken, NJ is a locally-based organization that oversees a variety of efforts to reduce cruelty against horses. Given the faltering economy, many horses have been abandoned and/or abused, as fewer and fewer people have the ability to care for their animals properly. Horses from the racetrack or who have been used
The fur industry is well-known to house minks and other animals raised for their coats in cruel conditions and to kill them by such devices as anal electrical probes designed to kill without damaging fur (HSUS 2007). The problem is that the underlying rationale for criminalizing animal cruelty is that animals (even those defined as "pests") feel physical pain the same as animals protected as "pets" in our culture. Unfortunately,
Animals in captivity, for example, have often been genetically, behaviorally or anatomically manipulated in order to enhance acclimation to the new environment. Similarly, animals have been neutered, declawed or defanged to be more compatible with their human keepers. Those who are in support of captivity of animals need to revisit such earlier condoned behavior and ensure that animals receive necessary care, nutrition and exercise and live in proper caging
history medical studies have concluded that prayer helps to heal the sick. Many political meetings begin with a prayer and American currency has the words "In God We Trust" imprinted on its face. Around the world God is a powerful deity and one that has historically led entire societies to make decisions based on God's word. While God has been the single deity that leads and guides societies in
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