Reference no: EM133206399 , Length: 2 Pages

Ethics: animals vs. racism

Peter Singer introduces us to the concept of speciesism in his All Animals are Equal. He says, Racists violate the principle of equality by giving greater weight to the interests of members of their own race when there is a clash between their interests and the interests of those of another race. Similarly, the speciesist allows the interests of his own species to override the greater interests of members of other species. The pattern is the same in each case. (387)

Is speciesism the same as racism in the morally relevant sense? Explain the role sentience plays in his argument. Given Singer's argument, how can anyone continue to justify eating factory-farmed meat? How can you internalize the fact that Singer is most likely right and yet still eat factory-farmed meat? What is the requirement to acknowledge and adopt sound philosophical arguments into one's worldview? Isn't the acknowledgment and adoption of claims that you know (or believe) to be truly necessary in order to preserve an internally consistent sense of self? Explain why or why not.