An overview of animal ethics
Volume XII tried to present, in brief, the main questions discussed in animal ethics. Let's go back over the key points.
What we've seen
- The attempts to justify disregarding animals don't hold up: none shows why an animal's pain would count for less.
- What matters is being able to be harmed or benefited, and that's why we should consider all sentient beings.
- Death is a harm for animals, even when it's painless.
- Animal advocacy and environmentalism are different things that often clash.
- Wild animals suffer immensely from natural causes, and there are reasons to try to help them.
- To help well, we need to choose effectively and think long term.
- The future could bring suffering on a scale never seen before, and thinking about it today helps prevent it.
- Our brains' biases make us forget exactly the problems with the most victims.
What now?
Each topic in this summary is discussed in detail in the other volumes. If something caught your attention, follow the notes to the full chapter.
In short
- Beings that can feel deserve consideration, whatever their species.
- That goes for exploited animals, wild animals, and future beings.
- The other volumes go deeper into each of these topics.