Peter S. Wenz: Animal Rights in Social Context 1/8

Professor Peter S. Wenz, PhD, Philosopher, University of Illinois at Springfield, USA

Animal Rights in Social Context (Part 1 of 8)

31 May 2006, University of Heidelberg

After a brief review of arguments for protecting animals from human exploitation, this lecture emphasizes relationships between appropriate protection and social context. Using the exploitation of animals in medical research as one example, I argue against the common belief that protecting animals detracts from human welfare. Instead, applying a view that I call "environmental synergism", I claim that simultaneous respect for people and animals improves outcomes for both. Exploitation of nature promotes exploitation of people. People therefore benefit from valuing nature, including animal nature, for itself, because this generally reduces human oppression and promotes human flourishing.

http://www.vorlesungen-tierrechte.de
http://www.rainerebert.de

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Peter
• Wenz
• Welfare
• Animal
• Philosophy
• Rights
• Ethics
• Tierrechte
• Humanities
• Social
• Science
• Environmental
• Synergism

[respuestasveganas]

We must distinguish environmentalism from the theory of animal rights, but we need to protect nature to protect the lives of animals.

[StephanieLisaTara]

HAIKU

I hatch! Crawl! And swim!

Oh how I love my sweet life,

Please don’t hunt me.

—A Green Sea Turtle

[Camren301]

Why don't u use suncream?

[highonhayek]

"People therefore benefit from valuing nature, including animal nature, for itself, because this generally reduces human oppression and promotes human flourishing."

Quite the contrary. Our standard of living is strengthened with each triumph against nature. We no longer have to freeze in blizzards, nor have our skin burned by the harsh sun. I am almost never hungry because "nature" never provided my food, agriculture did.

This is not to say that natural beauty is not pleasant and desirable.