Kant s Treatment Of Animals - 939 Words

Humans and all other animals are alike in many ways, but due to some very distinct differences, humans and animals should have some of the same rights but realistically cannot be treated equal. Classifying these differences can be difficult, but the research and finding of Immanuel Kant helps us better understand the major differences. Kant makes the distinction between humans and what he calls â€Å"mere animals.† He believes we are animals, but not just merely animals and he is very clear to make the distinction between mere animals and inanimate objects. In Holly L. Wilson’s article entitled The Green Kant: Kant’s Treatment of Animals, she quotes Immanuel Kant saying, â€Å"Animals are no mere machines or just matter, for they do have souls, and they do so because everything in nature is either inanimate or animate (Wilson 63).† Although animals are animate, we should still hold them to different standards than humans. Kant helps us understand this by breaking it down into four major differences. Humans can act under a moral code, meaning we have a moral framework that helps us know right from wrong and allows us to make thoughtful decisions. Mere animals do not have this same moral framework. An animal’s only goal is to survive. Kant makes the argument that humans are not end s-in-ourselves, but our moral law gives us a sense of status of being ends-in-ourselves (Wilson 64). He is showing that this morality is what is putting us ahead of animals. The second distinction is theShow MoreRelatedKant s View On Animal And The Treatment Of Them1306 Words   |  6 PagesKant’s approach to animals and the treatment of them is examined. His approach has a basis of egocentric ideals which can be found, and should be left in, an earlier era. First, I explain his second categorical imperative and how it is applicable to humans but excludes animals. I argue Kant’s second categorical imperative in regards to it only being applicable to humans through his definition of â€Å"humanity†. Second, I investigate how Kant believes we should treat animals and his justification forRead MoreKant And Mill On Animal Ethics Essay1365 Words   |  6 PagesIn this essay I will begin by explaining the overall views of Immanuel Kant and John Stuart Mill, then com pare and contrast the ideas and philosophies of Kant and Mill on Animal Ethics. I believe that Kant, the deontologist, will not care as much about the duty/responsibility between humans and animals as Mill, the utilitarian, who will see the extreme importance of animal ethics. After studying and explaining the views and teachings of these two philosophers I will see if my thesis was correct,Read MoreAnimal Rights And The Right Action1305 Words   |  6 Pages Billions of animals are killed by human beings each year. Most of these animals live in filthy, unfavorable conditions and undergo painful procedures before being slaughtered for food or other purposes. The way that these animals are treated would never be considered ethical when applied to humans, even though animals and humans have much in common. Humans should not kill or harm animals purposefully, just as they should not purposefully harm other humans. Based on the theory of utilitarianism-Read MoreKant And The Categorical Imperative1177 Words   |  5 PagesImmanuel Kant was a philosopher who tried to work out how human beings could be good and kind outside admiration and devotion of traditional religions. Kant was a pessimist about human character and believed that we are by nature intensely prone to corruption. This became more clear to Kant after reading the work of philosopher David Hume. It was this that led him to formulate his life’s project, the desire to replace religious authority with the authority of reason, that is human intelligence. WhenRead MoreEssay What Moral and Ethical Obligations do Humans Have to Animals1492 Words   |  6 Pageseggs necessary to feed the population. The intensive farming method of animal husbandry has become quite a controversial issue and caused apprehension amongst many different factions of society. These concerns relate to how high density farming practices result in dang ers associated with environmental impacts, human health and non-human welfare. Animal welfare/animal rights groups argue that the conditions in which the animals live are cruel and abhorrent. This notion of cruelty invites debate surroundingRead MoreImmanuel Kant And The Categorical Imperative1437 Words   |  6 PagesImmanuel Kant, a German philosopher, specifically a deontologist, has two imperatives: the hypothetical imperative and the categorical imperative. These imperatives describe what we ought to do and are only applicable to rational beings because they are the only beings that recognize what they ought or ought not to do. The hypothetical imperative is when an individual’s actions are reasoned by their desire, so they only act with the intention of fulfilling their desires. The categorical imperativeRead MoreCorporate Social Responsibility And Corporate Ethics1468 Words   |  6 Pagestwo main schools of thought. The deontological sight is that the correct acti on is one which is naturally right, and focuses on the choice about the decision making capacity to achieve the duty and responsibilities to the parties involved. Immanuel Kant (1724-1804), a German philosopher was an enormous supporter of this sort of thinking. He believed in acting according to the strict obedience to values, regardless of the consequences. Ethical choices taken with this point of view also had to be universallyRead MoreMoral Theories Can Help Justify The Decisions That Are Made882 Words   |  4 Pages2012). Furthermore, ethics must be both unconditional and universal. Kant thought that it was possible to develop a consistent moral system by using reason. The theory dictated that only an action done for a good will was a right action, regardless of the consequences (Kantian Ethics, 2012). Furthermore that an action could only count as the action of a good will if it satisfied the test of the Categorical Imperative. Kant s Categorical Imperative test comes in t wo versions: Moral rules mustRead MoreProtecting the Welfare of Nonhuman Animals1606 Words   |  7 Pagesholding that humans were created in God’s image having ‘dominion over all animals’. This statement remains true today, despite such assertions being undermined by scientific developments proving homo sapiens to simply be biological entities like any other organism. Such discoveries call into scrutiny the determination of rights on the basis of species and have lead to modern philosophers asserting the contention that animals should be included within the spectrum of rights. Regan, advocating a rightsRead MoreAnimal Testing Should Be Banned841 Words   |  4 Pageswords to describe the evil that is animal testing. Animal testing has been a hot topic for many years and is still being debated today. If you are against this savage act then you have the right opinion. Animal testing is the wrong way to go about experimenting with drugs and products. It is cr uel to put innocent animals in harm s way, these animals are unfairly chosen, results can be inconclusive or just a waste, and there are other, better options to explore. Animal testing isn t just some trivial