Module 12: Application of Animal Welfare Ethics PDF

Module 12 The Application of Animal Welfare Ethics This lecture was first developed for WSPA by Dr David Main (University of Bristol) in 2003. It was revised by WSPA scientific advisors in 2012 using updates provided by Dr Caroline Hewson. Module 12: The Application of Animal Welfare Et...

Module 12 The Application of Animal Welfare Ethics This lecture was first developed for WSPA by Dr David Main (University of Bristol) in 2003. It was revised by WSPA scientific advisors in 2012 using updates provided by Dr Caroline Hewson. Module 12: The Application of Animal Welfare Ethics Concepts in Animal Welfare © 2013 In this module you will learn How to apply ethical theories How these should guide our actions How our actions have broader consequences on the environment Frameworks for application in practice Module 12: The Application of Animal Welfare Ethics Concepts in Animal Welfare © 2013 Reviewing ethical theories (1) Moral concern Individuals may be harmed – made worse off Ethical theory  logical reasons for action The five main ethical theories of animal use are Contractarian Utilitarian Animal rights Relational (care ethic) Respect for nature Module 12: The Application of Animal Welfare Ethics Concepts in Animal Welfare © 2013 Reviewing ethical theories (2) Consequentialist theories of animal use: animals may be used as a means to an end Contractarian – what matters is relative cost and benefit to us alone. Treating animals well can serve us well Utilitarian – sentience is morally relevant so costs and benefits to people and animals must be weighed up; greatest good for the greatest number overall Respect for nature: consequences for species not individuals Module 12: The Application of Animal Welfare Ethics Concepts in Animal Welfare © 2013 Reviewing ethical theories (3) Deontological (obligation-based) theories of animal use Rights: animals’ intrinsic value as subjects of a life confers the right to direct own lives and not be killed or used as a means to an end. This in turn obliges us to respect that right Relational: mutually beneficial relationship – animals depend on us for food etc, and in return we use their products. Their dependence on us as caregivers obliges us to treat our animals well. Module 12: The Application of Animal Welfare Ethics Concepts in Animal Welfare © 2013 Areas of concern Breeding of dogs with heritable defects Farming animals for meat Controlling infectious diseases in animals Use of animals in research Module 12: The Application of Animal Welfare Ethics Concepts in Animal Welfare © 2013 Breeding dogs with genetic defects (Palmer 2012) A concern because we are worried about the individual dog being harmed i.e. “worse off” Concern is challenged by another philosophical argument “Non-identity problem”: genetic trait is part of individual’s unique identity and having it cannot make that individual worse off Module 12: The Application of Animal Welfare Ethics Concepts in Animal Welfare © 2013 Breeding dogs with genetic defects (Palmer 2012; Sandøe & Christiansen 2008) Contractarian: The human attitude that permits breeding without regard to welfare is troubling because it lacks compassion. We should breed healthier dogs because that is more consistent with virtuous behaviour. Also, it saves owners money in veterinary treatment Utilitarian: We know we can breed healthier dogs, so we should Rights theory – not clear on companion animals? Relational: care ethic – our role as caregiver in mutually beneficial relationship obliges us to breed healthier dogs Respect for nature: breeding animals to improve their nature improves the genetic integrity of the breed and species Module 12: The Application of Animal Welfare Ethics Concepts in Animal Welfare © 2013 Breeding broilers (Dawkins & Layton 2012) Production traits are in conflict with welfare traits Lameness Cardiac disease Large appetite  very restricted food for parent stock  hunger Module 12: The Application of Animal Welfare Ethics Concepts in Animal Welfare © 2013 Applying ethical theories to breeding broilers Simple utilitarianism: Loss of farmers’ livelihoods outweighs the welfare issues in broiler hens Contractarianism: lost livelihoods outweighs other costs, unless better breeding gives farmers more peace of mind Rights: no support for farming Care ethic: strongly supports better breeding Respect for nature: supports better breeding Module 12: The Application of Animal Welfare Ethics Concepts in Animal Welfare © 2013 Farming and eating animals (Sandøe & Christiansen 2008) Common ethical concerns Farming / slaughter harms animals The food given to farm animals could feed many people instead Animal products are bad for human health Feeding and keeping animals, and subsequent distribution of their products, cause environmental damage Religious reasons – personal purity e.g. ahimsa Module 12: The Application of Animal Welfare Ethics Concepts in Animal Welfare © 2013 Utilitarianism (Sandøe & Christiansen 2008) Peter Singer: Preference utilitarianism Animals are sentient but not self-aware so incapable of having the preference to keep on living Therefore, killing animals for food is allowed if they have a good life, are replaced, and die painlessly However, most farming cannot satisfy their preferences so cannot give a good life, and we should not therefore eat animal products However, consumers could buy welfare-friendly products as this exerts pressure in the marketplace for higher welfare standards on farms Module 12: The Application of Animal Welfare Ethics Concepts in Animal Welfare © 2013 “Emerging social ethic” (Rollin 2006) Prevalence of quality assurance schemes Rollin’s “emerging social ethic” Utilitarianism: prevent suffering Rights: live according to nature Relational: Maintain “ancient contract” of mutual advantage between animals and people Module 12: The Application of Animal Welfare Ethics Concepts in Animal Welfare © 2013 Animal rights (Sandøe & Christiansen 2008 ) Gary Francione Animal rights necessitate veganism Quality assurance schemes for meat etc still legitimise animal production and slaughter Consumer needs vs. animal needs Ethical challenge Module 12: The Application of Animal Welfare Ethics Concepts in Animal Welfare © 2013 Fairness? (D’Silva & Webster 2010) Human health needs? Effects on local ecosystem? e.g. methane gas; destruction of forest to enable grain production Depriving the hungriest people? Scientific information helps because “value free”? Module 12: The Application of Animal Welfare Ethics Concepts in Animal Welfare © 2013 Farming and eating animals (Sandøe & Christiansen 2008 ) Summary “Animal welfare strategy” – new social ethic, care ethic, quality assurance schemes Veganism Module 12: The Application of Animal Welfare Ethics Concepts in Animal Welfare © 2013 Introduction to environmental ethics (Desjardins 1997) Human-centred environmental ethics Only humans have intrinsic worth Other species have worth due to their utility to humans Module 12: The Application of Animal Welfare Ethics Concepts in Animal Welfare © 2013 Introduction to environmental ethics (Desjardins 1997) Sentience-centred ethics Life-centred ethics All living things have intrinsic moral worth Reverence for life Module 12: The Application of Animal Welfare Ethics Concepts in Animal Welfare © 2013 Introduction to environmental ethics (Desjardins 1997) Environment-centred ethics Not just individuals but ‘wholes’ count Encompasses respect for biodiversity Must ‘preserve integrity, stability and beauty of biotic community’ Module 12: The Application of Animal Welfare Ethics Concepts in Animal Welfare © 2013 Eco-centric ethics and animal ethics – differences (Desjardins 1997) 1. Unlike animal ethics, eco-centric ethics shows little concern for captive animals 2. Eco-centric ethics is concerned about more than just sentient animals 3. Animal ethics is concerned with pain and death, sometimes seen as essential parts of the life process 4. Eco-centric ethics is more concerned with systems or structures than individuals Module 12: The Application of Animal Welfare Ethics Concepts in Animal Welfare © 2013 Controlling infectious diseases (Sandøe & Christiansen 2008) (Test and) slaughter UK 2001: 9 million killed to control foot and mouth disease Ethical theories Contractarian: costs and benefits to humans Utilitarianism: consider animal suffering too Rights: minimise number culled Relational: minimise number culled Module 12: The Application of Animal Welfare Ethics Concepts in Animal Welfare © 2013 Controlling infectious diseases (Sandøe & Christiansen 2008) Wildlife e.g. rats (typhus, rabies, leptospirosis) Poison – anticoagulants – painful Sticky pads – hunger, fear, exhaustion Rats are relatively low in our chain of moral concern (compared to dogs or monkeys) Ethical theories: Contractarian: costs and benefits to humans Utilitarianism: consider rats’ suffering too Rights: prove the need to kill the rats in each case Relational: no problem as no mutual relationship Respect for nature: not clear. Avoid poison. Module 12: The Application of Animal Welfare Ethics Concepts in Animal Welfare © 2013  A sliding scale of moral concern? Sliding scale is different from the ‘equal consideration of equal interests’ Equal consideration suggests similar interests deserve similar attention whatever the species Module 12: The Application of Animal Welfare Ethics Concepts in Animal Welfare © 2013 Use of animals in research (Sandøe & Christiansen 2008) Our chain of concern and preferences Contractarian: set animal welfare standards to allay public concern and maximise benefits to people Utilitarian: animal welfare of major concern 3Rs: Replace, Reduce, Refine Use can only be justified if the benefit to people outweighs the cost paid by the animals Rights: does experimentation respect the animal’s rights and preserve his/her dignity? Right not be killed and not to be used as a means to an end  no animal testing even if any harm is minor or Right to be protected from certain uses e.g. extreme pain, but other uses permissible Module 12: The Application of Animal Welfare Ethics Concepts in Animal Welfare © 2013 Use of animals in research (Sandøe & Christiansen 2008) Compromise policy? Research issue must be of vital importance No other way to study the issue except by using animals Animals should not have to suffer more than the experiment requires Contractarian: satisfactory Utilitarian: acceptable but falls short of ideal Rights (abolitionist): unsatisfactory Rights (moderate): acceptable But: many research issues are not of vital importance- Market forces e.g. veterinary NSAID drugs (e.g. carprofen, meloxicam) Non-vital human ailments (e.g. baldness, myopia). Diseases caused primarily by lifestyle choices e.g. smoking Animal data don’t predict human data Module 12: The Application of Animal Welfare Ethics Concepts in Animal Welfare © 2013 Summary so far Breeding of dogs with heritable defects “Non-identity problem” Farming animals for meat Environmental ethics Controlling infectious diseases in animals Sliding scale of moral concern Use of animals in research 3 Rs Module 12: The Application of Animal Welfare Ethics Concepts in Animal Welfare © 2013 Approaches to animal ethics: an ethical matrix (Mepham 1996; Heleski & Anthony 2012) Module 12: The Application of Animal Welfare Ethics Concepts in Animal Welfare © 2013 Six-point framework (Mullan & Main 2008; Heleski & Anthony 2012) 1. Identify all possible courses of action 2. Establish interests of affected parties 3. Identify ethical issues involved 4. Establish legal position of the dilemma 5. Choose a course of action 6. Minimise the impact of the decision Module 12: The Application of Animal Welfare Ethics Concepts in Animal Welfare © 2013 Conclusions Criticisms ‘Just subjective’ ‘Just preferences’ Ethical theories The logic and reasoning behind how we should act towards animals, for example to avoid harming them Module 12: The Application of Animal Welfare Ethics Concepts in Animal Welfare © 2013 References Dawkins, M. S., & Layton, R. (2012). Breeding for better welfare: genetic goals for broiler chickens and their parents. Animal Welfare , 21: 147-155. D’Silva, J., & Webster, J. (eds) (2010). The Meat Crisis. Developing more sustainable production and consumption. London: Earthscan. Desjardins, J. R. (2012). Environmental Ethics: An Introduction to Environmental Philosophy. 5th edition. Kentucky: Wadsworth Publishing. Helelski, C. R., & Anthony, R. (2012). Science alone is not always enough: The importance of ethical assessment for a more comprehensive view of equine welfare. Journal of Veterinary Behaviour, 7: 169-178. Mepham, B. (1996). Food Ethics. London: Routledge. Mullan, S., & Main, D. (2001). Principles of ethical decision-making in veterinary practice. In Practice, 23: 394- 401. Palmer, C. (2012). Does breeding a bulldog harm it? Breeding, ethics and harm to animals. Animal Welfare, 21: 157-166. Rollin, B. (2006). An Introduction to Veterinary Medical Ethics. Theory and Cases. Second edition, pp.34-37. Oxford: Blackwell. Sandøe, P., & Christiansen, S. B. (2008). Ethics of Animal Use, pp.67-153. Chichester: Blackwell. Module 12: The Application of Animal Welfare Ethics Concepts in Animal Welfare © 2013