IB Philosophy EE: An Evaluation of Peter Singer's 1993 'Practical Ethics (A)
7 views 0 purchase
Course
Philosophy
Institution
12th Grade
- IB philosophy extended essay on Peter Singer's 1993 'Practical Ethics'
- Grade A essay
- Research question: how successful is Peter Singer’s 1993 ‘Practical Ethics’ in establishing the moral status of animals?
An Evaluation of Peter Singer's 1993 'Practical Ethics'
Subject: Philosophy
Research Question: How successful is Peter Singer’s 1993 ‘Practical Ethics’ in
establishing the moral status of animals”?
Word Count: 3999
Examination: November 2023
Contents Page
,Introduction..................................................................................................................................1
Singer’s Arguments For The Moral Status of Animals.....................................................................3
The Principle of Equal Consideration of Interests......................................................................................3
Speciesism................................................................................................................................................4
The Argument From Marginal Cases.........................................................................................................4
The Practical Implications of Singer’s Arguments......................................................................................5
An Evaluation of Singer’s Arguments.............................................................................................5
Preference Utilitarianism..........................................................................................................................5
Speciesism................................................................................................................................................7
The Argument from Marginal Cases..........................................................................................................7
The Practical Implications of Singer’s Arguments......................................................................................9
Singer’s Response to Frequent Objections..............................................................................................10
Conclusion...................................................................................................................................15
Reference List..............................................................................................................................16
, Introduction
Until 12,000 years ago, the hunting of animals was essential for survival
(National Geographic, 2023), however since then humans have developed
intensive farming methods focusing on maximising production efficiency and
minimising costs (Heyes, 2012). This approach causes billions of animals to
suffer from disease, overcrowding, physical mutilation, poor nutrition, and
slaughter (Harari, 2016). Furthermore, animal experimentation also causes the
suffering of non-human animals for the purposes of medical research and
product testing (Akhtar, 2015). Many advocate that although these processes
are beneficial for survival, the extent to which they have been undertaken is
unnecessary. We are no longer hunting for survival, but rather participating in
the systematic abuse of living beings, all for an exorbitant lifestyle that only a
small proportion of the population can access. It is argued that if non-human
animals were granted the status for moral consideration, perhaps authoritative
bodies would have the opportunity to avoid or minimise the mistreatment of
animals without significantly impacting the wellbeing of humanity.
It is only recently that we have begun to consider our actions towards non-
human animals, ideologies of human superiority first stemming from Christianity
and Judaism, both conveying the notion of ‘Imago Dei’ (the image of god). It is
argued that as humans were created in ‘the image of God’, we possess a unique
value called ‘the sanctity of life’ that is not shared with other creatures. Many
also accept anthropocentricism which outlines that due to our cognitive abilities
we have intrinsic worth that animals do not (Boslaugh, 2016). Over time more
1
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller RichardG. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $24.98. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
