Ethics and animals
In the world in which we live, there is much discrimination, of many different types. Speciesism is a form of discrimination. Discrimination occurs when someone is given less moral consideration than others or treated worse for an unjustified reason. There is discrimination against certain human beings based on their sex, skin color, sexual preference, and for many other reasons.
We all act in certain ways. Our acts and the ultimate reasons behind them are what constitute our morals. We act according to goals we intend to reach, such as reducing suffering, increasing happiness (ours and that of others), reducing harm suffered by sentient beings, and benefiting the worst-off. Some people also act according to certain norms, such as keeping promises or telling the truth.
The term “interest” is used to describe what is beneficial for someone. That is, in other words, what promotes what is good for anyone whose life can go well or ill. We say “that’s in the interest of someone” when something is positive for someone. When we think about how to act, as we do when we engage in moral thinking, we consider the interests of others that we should respect.
In addition to having an interest in not suffering, animals need to be able to live in order to have a happy life. Many people think humans, but not nonhuman animals, have an interest in living. There are strong reasons to refute this.
Many people acknowledge that nonhuman animals do have interests, but it is a commonly held opinion that their interests do not count for much. It is important to refute this myth.
