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Animal Rights

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Is it cruel to slaughter animals for eating? If you’re an animal lover or vegetarian, you may think it’s unethical to slaughter animals for consuming. There are many different views on animal rights, according to Philosopher Tom Regan who is a strong believer on animal rights and why they deserve not to be harmed. He wrote that the fundamental wrong is the system that allows us to view animals as our resources, that they are here for us-to be eaten, surgically manipulated or exploited for sports or money. Once we accept this view of animals- as our resources- the rest is as predictable as it is regrettable. If we are taught that animals have no moral status it can affect our understanding on their reasoning of life. Regan Kantians belief was animals have the same rights as humans, they too feel pain and suffering. Singer who is a Utilitarian believes human beings are of value so therefore animal rights have no importance. There are positive and negative arguments on both ends. I see why Regan’s views are important and how animals can be looked at as useless creatures. I never once thought eating meat was unethical. I feel every individual is raised differently from culture to religious differences. I was brought up eating meat but never thought of it being inhumane to kill cows, pigs, chickens and fish for food. Now animals like dogs and cats I do believe have emotions. We also consider them companions so I feel they have a moral status and rights to be taken care of.

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