...his article presents the review of James Rachels on the basic argument for vegetarianism by Peter Singer. The author develops the Singer’s idea that causing pain is not justified unless there is a sufficiently good reason for it (Rachels 72). Such approach is applicable to vegetarianism and explains why killing animals cannot be justified. Rachel accepts the essence of this idea and states that people should refuse to be the consumers of meat produced on farms and slaughterhouses. The author supports his stance with the point that eating meat for pleasure is not a convincing argument against vegetarianism. Neither is the need to provide the body with certain nutrients, which can be easily substituted with vegetable food. On the other hand,...
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...Nelson I believe that something is ethically wrong with the new trend in pork production. It is creating excess waste, degrading the value of the land it utilizes, as well as polluting water and air miles away from its plant locations, causing unjust costs to the public and environment. The big problem is that the new method of producing pork in factory rather than farm settings creates a buildup of waste material. Each pig produces two to four times as much fecal matter as a person, and the factory setting allows this waste to seep into rivers, lakes, and oceans – killing wildlife and creating pollution (Foer 13). On the other hand, an appropriate number of animals raised through traditional farming methods allow manure to go back into the soil as fertilizer for the crops that will become the pigs’ feed (Foer 11). In addition the factory farms have caused an estimated $26 billion dollars in degradation to American land (Foer 12). Pork companies, lead by the Smithfield company which has had sales of $12 billion in 2007 (Foer 14), would say that there is not a problem with the way they produce pork, because it is what people want. The entire food industry is ultimately driven and determined by the decisions people make about what to eat and unless we make new choices the industry will have no reason to stop the growing trend away from traditional farming into the mass-production which has been encouraged by American’s decision to eat more meat than any other culture in history...
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...war are: defense of the innocent, recovery of something wrongly taken, punishment of evil, and defense of aggression in progress. From a pacifist's point of view there are some major problems with these justifications for war. Each and every justification is met with its own singular problem. The defense against the innocent seems like it is justified but there arises two arguments against it. In a war more than just soldiers are killed. Other civilians will be killed and many of the soldiers don’t want to fight, they are just ordered too. That means we are killing innocent civilians and soldiers to protect some innocent. From a utilitarian view we must ask if this the death of the innocent will outweigh the death of the other innocent if we do or don’t go to war. Yet, deontologists would say that killing is bad and that needs to be punished because killing is wrong. So kill people to stop killing. For a pacifist that is just wrong. The other problem from defending the innocent is that violence is key in war and many times over we have been shown that violence is not always the best way. We should try and support people and ideas like Gandhi, to win with non-violence. There is not always a need for full war if we can help these people peacefully. Then there is the problem with the justification of recovery. This can be taken way out of proportion. If you don't believe me just look at fascist Germany in WWII. Hitler wanted the land that was wrongfully taken from them in the Treaty...
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...Logic: Peter Singer An Evaluation of Singer Peter Singer questions our conception of equality as it relates to the human species and other animal species. He fundamentally argues that, “The principle of the equality of human beings is not a description of an alleged actual equality among humans: it is a prescription of how we should treat humans.” The statement, revealing Singer’s essential argument, also comprises two approaches we might take towards establishing equality among living things. Let’s trace Singer’s claims surrounding these two approaches and finally consider his fundamental, philosophical assumption. One approach to equality stems from philosophers, who determine a base-line set of attributes or functions that constitute human beings. Typical treatises attribute humans with rational, linguistic, or emotional capacities that differentiate them from “brutes.” However, Singer culls evidence from the medical field, not research but simple observations of medical disabilities, where a human with born defects actually functions at a lower level than certain animal species. For example, someone with severe cognitive paralysis may be less rational or “able” than a normal-functioning dolphin. Thus, Singer points out that if we wish to establish equality based upon attributes, we have a hard time excluding many species of non-humans. As a corollary, the standard of equality by a typical set of characteristics must be set lower and lower to encompass all humans when...
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...of the few traces that our ancestors have left the modern mankind today. Although mankind are not carnivores per say, we have evolved into thinking so. The majority of us have been brought up eating meat and presumably, have never questioned it. Taking these into account, how ethical is meat eating? One can argue that non-human animals also have the same rights and killing them for food and using them as a mean to human gratification, does not treat them respectfully. The fact that one has been raised to eat meat is cannot be an explanation of why mankind started eating meat and it cannot justify the claim that eating meat is ethical. Yet most of us have no idea that when we eat meat, we are in fact making a subconscious choice. When we were growing up, forming our identity and values, it is fair to say that generally our parents decide on whether we eat meat or not and opposed to making our own choice. We were never asked to reflect upon this daily practice that has such profound unethical dimensions and personal implications. Eating animals were just a given; it was just the way things were. However, this kind of argument allows us to eat human flesh all that required is that one is raised in a cannibalistic tradition, because then we can say that ‘this is the way that things are! But what if in a culture eating human was ethically good? What if one was raised to cut people’s head off with a knife everytime the desire arose? To give more real examples, two generations...
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...consequences they have in ourselves and the world; also we can live healthy, full lives without eating meat and finally it is not coherent or logic to defend certain animals while killing others. In a society where the constant battle is for freedom and rights of living creatures, I believe these aforementioned issues are things we should each consider seriously since they say a lot about ourselves; they are in the very core of who we are and the actions we are willing to take to build a better, more compassionate society. I’m going to defend why eating meat is unethical, not something entirely natural nor something we should encourage. To begin with, let’s clarify the concept of ethics. There are way too many definitions of this term, but I’m going to work with the one that is taken from the word ethos (Greek) which means “character” or “custom” and defines some appropriated morals (norms) to follow in a society, but also as individuals; they define what is virtuous and good and what is not in some way (not to be confused with rules and laws, which involves more of a legal and inflexible context). There are several fields of application for ethics and I’m going to support what I say by bringing up the utilitarian and environmental ethics and more specifically, Marshall’s libertarian extension of the last one, which claims that all entities, should be included in the civil liberties that we seek, for the community we live in is also populated by non-humans. In the words of Andrew...
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...disagree with the claim that human action is not free and I will put forth arguments in this essay to discuss this conclusion. Firstly, libertarians would argue that we freely chose our actions as we have an overall feeling of freedom. This relates to our common experiences of choosing and deciding and when we have to make choices we are open to all other alternatives before making a decision. Surely, we only have the ability to freely choose something if we have free will to do so and if our actions were causally determined then we wouldn’t have other alternatives to decide from. Therefore this strong feeling of free will and freedom to do as we choose to would prove that human actions isn’t causally determined. However, determinists would claim that this ‘feeling’ of freedom is not sufficient evidence to say that we are free since it is possible for us to feel free even when we are not. For example, if I had a brain tumour that I didn’t know of which caused me to drink repeatedly then I am unaware that the tumour is making me do so yet I feel as if I am freely choosing to drink. It may seem as though it is my desire to drink however it isn’t and the action is causally determined by an illness and thus if my tumour was removed, my desire to drink may be eradicated. This would therefore show that infact this feeling of freedom is false and I am actually not free despite feeling so and my action is causally determined, proving I am not free. Another argument however out forward...
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...All Animals Are Equal PETER SINGER In TOM REGAN & PETER SINGER (eds.), Animal Rights and Human Obligations. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, 1989, pp. 148-162 Available freely online at: http://www.animal-rights-library.com/texts-m/singer02.htm. In recent years a number of oppressed groups have campaigned vigorously for equality. The classic instance is the Black Liberation movement, which demands an end to the prejudice and discrimination that has made blacks second-class citizens. The immediate appeal of the black liberation movement and its initial, if limited, success made it a model for other oppressed groups to follow. We became familiar with liberation movements for Spanish-Americans, gay people, and a variety of other minorities. When a majority group— women—began their campaign, some thought we had come to the end of the road. Discrimination on the basis of sex, it has been said, is the last universally accepted form of discrimination, practiced without secrecy or pretense even in those liberal circles that have long prided themselves on their freedom from prejudice against racial minorities. One should always be wary of talking of "the last remaining form of discrimination." If we have learnt anything from the liberation movements, we should have learnt how difficult it is to be aware of latent prejudice in our attitudes to particular groups until this prejudice is forcefully pointed out. A liberation movement demands an expansion of our moral horizons and...
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...into a man-eating beast that has been taken out of its’ natural habitat and placed behind bars. Seeing these animals trapped and put on display for a profit ruins the fun and raises question as to who is responsible for thinking that animal cruelty for profit was a good idea. Gabriela Cowperthwaite exposes the corporate company of SeaWorld in her documentary Blackfish for their negligence to animal captivity and allowing the attacks of innocent people to continue to happen. Along with the theme of animal cruelty, Jurassic World also portrays the company as reckless in pursuit of money and greed. Both...
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...situation the other way around," Ralph says."Up until now, nobody has shown that UFOs don't exist, so I think we should give those people who claim they have seen them the benefit of the doubt. We should believe in UFOs and extraterrestrials until the sightings are proven false." "Well, okay. Let's suppose,just for the sake of argument, that I admit the existence of UFOs and t~eir little green drivers. How are we supposed to respond to them? What are we supposed to do?"C1audia asks. "For starters, we should extend an open invitation to them," answers Ralph."They may come from a dying planet where millions of their compatriots desperately strug gle for survival.Their sun may be burning out, their water supply exhausted, and their soil poisoned with toxic chemicals. Surely they deserve a second chance on a new planet." "Maybe so," Claudia says in a patronizing tone."And now that you mention it, we probably have a legal obligation to let them in. Our current immigration laws say that we have to admit at least ten thousand applicants annually, from every major nation. If those aliens would just sign the right papers, we'd have to give them permanent resi dency. However, what worries me is, they may have the wrong intentions. After all, didn't they conduct experiments on those people they abducted?" "Yes, but don't we experiment on animals? If the animals don't complain, why should we? Also, medical experimentation often leads to wonderful new cures. I'm certain we have nothing to worry...
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...their life; while others might be struggling reasons for pain and suffering. It helps to believe that our pain and suffering are for some ultimate purpose and that eventually some good can come from it. Faith in God can be arrived at intelligently through reason. We may not be able to prove that God exists but there is convincing evidence to believe he does. We shouldn’t be afraid to ask questions about what we believe and why we believe it. Our answers will help to strengthen our own faith and give others something to think about. If something is worth believing, it is worth defending. The cosmological argument concludes that everything in the universe depends on something else for its existence. McCloskey in “On Being an Atheist” concedes that there is a power behind the universe. He however, does not see this power as a necessary being. All we can infer from the causal argument is the existence of a cause commensurate with the effect to be explained, the...
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...unsweetened: no disagreement B. If Paul “drs should sometimes assist their patient’s death, Helen: No (then real disagreement) C. There is a point here about disagreement A characteristic of ethics and ethical argumentation consistency: A. It is always wrong to kill a human being B. Abortion is not always wrong C. I am committed to holding that abortion isn’t always the killing of a human being a. This sets a limit on the subjectivity of ethics b. Another such limit: factual accuracy c. One can enjoy a taste without knowing what it is d. In ethics we have to understand the facts of the matter: patient’s prognosis, wishes etc in regards to resuscitation (2) Ethical relativism A. Similarity to subjectivism: B. Ethics depends upon a group, a culture etc. a. Darius: eat or burn one’s dead b. Herodotus each culture things its custom best c. Nomos vs. Phusis d. Anthropology: no superior morality which...
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...concerning the topic, clearly stated and supported by reasons and/or examples. The opposing viewpoint and reason should be included in a separate paragraph before the dosing one, together with an argument that shows it is an unconvincing viewpoint. The writer's opinion should be included in the introduction, and summarized/restated in the conclusion. iii Essays suggesting solutions to problems, in which the problem(s) associated with a particular issue or situation are analysed and possible solutions are put for-ward, together with any expected results/consequences. The writer's opinion may be mentioned, directly or indirectly, in the introduction and/or conclusion. A good discursive essay should consist of: a) an introductory paragraph in which you clearly state the topic to be discussed; b) a main body, in which points are clearly stated in separate paragraphs and exemplified or justified: and c) a closing paragraph summarising the main points of the essay, in which you stale/restate your opinion, and/or give a balanced consideration of the topic. Points to consider • Present each point in a separate paragraph. A welldeveloped paragraph contains a clear topic sentence, which summaries the contents of the paragraph, as well as a clear justification, explanation or example in support of...
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...argumentative often argues or like arguing. Argument: n. a set of reasons that show that something is true or untrue, right or wrong etc. When you have an opinion and try to convince your listener or reader to accept your opinion, you are agreeing with or disagreeing with something. For example: In an everyday situation, you may try to convince a friend to go somewhere or in a composition or speech class, the instructor may make an assignment in which you must support or oppose the use of nuclear energy to produce electricity. If you agree or disagree on an issue, you will want your reader or listener to accept your point of view. There are a few types of argumentative compositions such as: 1. Advantages and disadvantages 2. Expressing opinions/providing solutions to problems 3. Expressing arguments for and against a topic 4. Compare and contrast something or somebody PURPOSE of ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAYS * An argument follows when two groups disagree about something. * People can have different opinions and can offer reasons in support of their arguments. However, sometimes it might be difficult to convince the other group because the argument could be based on a matter of preference, or religious faith. * Therefore, arguments of preference, belief or faith are NOT the type of arguments. The kind of argument that can be argued logically is one based...
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... HOW TO USE THIS BOOK ix PRETEST 1 LESSON 1 Critical Thinking and Reasoning Skills The importance of critical thinking and reasoning skills, justifying your decisions, the difference between reason and emotion 15 LESSON 2 Problem-Solving Strategies Identifying the main issue of a problem and its parts, prioritizing issues 21 LESSON 3 Thinking vs. Knowing Distinguishing between fact and opinion, determining whether facts are true or tentative truths 27 LESSON 4 Who Makes the Claim? Evaluating credibility: recognizing bias, determining level of expertise; the special case of eyewitnesses 33 LESSON 5 Partial Claims and Half-Truths Recognizing incomplete claims, understanding the true value of studies and averages 41 v – CONTENTS – LESSON 6 What’s in a Word? Recognizing the art of subtle persuasion: euphemisms, dysphemisms, and biased questions 47 LESSON 7 Working with Arguments...
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