REGNRSG 105 Lecture Notes - Immortal Souls, Catdog, Symbolic Interactionism
Document Summary
How non-human animals feature in our social lives; pets, food, clothing, protection, entertainment, research, therapy, emotional support and care, service/guide dogs. In our society, especially in the west we can talk about a system on oppression. The systematic oppression of sentient beings based on their species. A moral and ethical debate: the rights of animals" was used to parody feminist ideas of the rights of women"(wollstonecraft 1792) use of animal rights was used to ridicule feminist ideas in 18th century. If equality can be applied to women, why not to dogs, cats or horses? (singer 1975) Extending the principle of equality to non-humans does not mean we give animals the same rights as humans have. Similarities in the cognitive capacities should not be the basis for equality equality should emerge from the capacity to feel pain/joy (sentient quality) Therefore, we should prevent animals from suffering because they can feel pain/joy ethical argument we should prevent them from suffering.
