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Animal Ethics

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Animal Ethics The issue regarding the morality on whether or not people should consume meat has been debated for several decades. Factory farms, where animals are raised in filthy conditions, pumped with antibiotics and growth hormones, and fed a diet that includes animal bi-products, are viewed by animal rights activists to be inhumane and torturous. Since the beginning of time, the human race has been consuming meat. In the book of Genesis, it says “Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you; and just as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything”. In a traditional sense, I believe it’s morally acceptable to eat meat if the animal is raised on a good farm. This is where the animal is treated in a humane way by allowing them to roam and graze freely in conditions similar to their natural habitat. Additionally, their life span is much longer than that of an animal living on a factory farm. This supports the view that animals should not be caused to suffer. However, I’ve never given much thought about this subject matter prior to taking this class, and in all probability have been eating meat from factory farms. Thus, I will write about factory farms, despite my newly acquired position. Even though I believe it’s acceptable to consume meat, and my personal experience is more than likely related to factory farms, there are several valid arguments against them. The most significant argument is regarding the inhumane, torturous treatment these animals endure. However, in order to justify this argument, we must ask ourselves “what is torture?” Torture is defined as “the deliberate (not intentional) infliction of severe pain for the purpose of (1) securing a confession from a criminal suspect, (2) punishing an offender, (3) eliciting information or (4) gratifying the sadistic desires of the torturer. “ Meat production may be cruel or

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