Everyday people all over the world try to improve the qualities of their lives. Nonetheless, they forget that what they do can have severe harms and damages on the environment and other organisms. In the excerpt “A Fable for Tomorrow” from the book Silent Spring, Rachel Carson describes the disastrous and horrific effects of pesticides on the environment and animals of the town. In the essay “Our Animal Rites” by Anna Quindlen, she shows the inhumanity of animal hunting by human. Furthermore, she argues how human migration is destroying the natural habitats that belong to the animals. In the excerpt “Reading the River” from the autobiographical book Life on Mississippi, Mark Twain describes how he loses the ability to perceive the …show more content…
This suggests that the roadsides was once beautiful and bloomed with healthy and lively vegetation; however, they are now destroyed due to the use of pesticides. From these examples, it can be shown that even though pesticide is beneficial, its deadly effects outweigh its benefits; in addition, it is a dangerous substances to the environment, organisms, and even human. Animal hunting is not only inhumane but can also lead to the extinction of many species. In the essay “Our Animal Rites”, Quindlen asserts that it is “pathetic to consider the firepower” the hunters use in order to “bring down one fair-sized deer” (33). In this quote, she explains that the use of firepower by human to kill innocent animals is unfair and heartrending. Furthermore, Quindlen describes that even though the bears are killed by the “smiling” and triumphant hunters after the “three bear days in the autumn,” the bears look “more dignified than they do” (33). This suggests that hunting animals is not entertaining but rather unacceptable and disgraceful. Furthermore, many species can become extinct due to excessive hunting. In an ecology class, I learned that the extinction rate of species each year is approximately two hundred to two thousand each year. This is an extremely high and alerting rate since there is only around two million species that has been scientifically identified on the planet. In these examples, it can be concluded that the hunting of innocent animals is atrocious and
Hunting is a common controversial issue among people. Determining when killing an animal is necessary and ethical has mixed viewpoints. One type of hunting that generally creates feelings of animosity among people is trophy hunting. There are very few ethical theories and ideas that support trophy hunting. Trophy hunting is a form of hunting in which the hunter kills an animal with the main goal of taking a part or parts of that animal for a trophy. The majority of trophy hunting occurs in Africa, with big game as the most popular trophies, but trophy hunting also applies to non-exotic species as well. In this paper, I will start with introducing a recent incident involving the killing of a popular African lion, then outlining the main ethical issues with trophy hunting. Next I will analyze the trophy hunting from an anthropocentric, biocentric, and ecocentric viewpoint, and finally I will propose a few solutions that would make trophy hunting a more ethical activity. Trophy hunting has been said to provide many benefits to conservation and preservation of species but is ethically lacking; with some stronger laws and regulations trophy hunting has the potential to be both ethically acceptable and beneficial to the environment.
Why do people kill innocent animals for sport? Many see it as cold-blooded murder. Hunting’s popularity still persists though. In The Most Dangerous Game, the author, Richard Connell shows his negative view on hunting. Three reasons can prove this theory.
It may be safe to assume that some Americans view hunting as being barbaric. This may be due to the fact that our society is not one that relies on this method for survival anymore. Most Americans acquire their food through a local grocery store which gets their food from farmers who grow vegetables and raise domesticated livestock. In the recent decades, hunting has been portrayed more as a “sport” than as a means for survival. It would appear that the meaning behind hunting has been lost and with it people’s idea that it is meant to be helpful.
The killing of animals has been ubiquitous almost since the creation of the world. Some animals are killed as a sacrifice to a “greater being”. Other animals are killed for food. Finally, some animals are killed for sport, that is, human leisure.
Hunting has always been argued in being beneficial or critical to the environment. Especially, in recent world topics as well as the short story “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell. Mr. Sanger Rainsford in “The Most Dangerous Game” changes his opinion on hunting. The short story states, “The world is made up of two classes—the hunters and the huntees.” This quote illustrates that Rainsford is expressing his philosophy on what he believes hunting is, and not having a problem with it. As you can see, it is my position that hunting is beneficial to the environment because it balances out the ecosystem, and teaches humans the value of nature.
Since the European colonization of eastern Africa, trophy hunting has been a highly debatable topic. During the early days of trophy hunting, dwindling numbers of some of the world’s most unique and prized wildlife was not a problem like it is today. Wildlife conservationists and hunters continue to debate the merits of legalized hunting on the economy and on the environment. However, not all hunters value the economic benefits and have passion for the outdoors. In fact, some of these hunters are conservationists themselves, who believe that it will allow for better conservation efforts in the long run. In another perspective, trophy hunters tend to downplay the reality of the killing part. To kill is to put to death, extinguish, nullify, cancel, or destroy. There is a fine line between conservation, and senseless killing of animals involved in trophy hunting.
The man’s fatal flaw was that he allowed his desires to be louder than his instincts. He knew the weather was too cold for a journey, but he wanted to have dinner at camp. He saw the dog shy away, but he shoved the dog forward not wanting to lose time. He knew that getting his feet wet could be his death, but he was angry about being late to see the boys. He consistently did not make informed judgements and he failed to see how high the stakes were in understanding his environment. Hence, it is important to not only understand the environment but also how it intertwines with human culture. Humans are a self-sabotaging species. Many are ignorant to the damage pollution does to not only the environment but also to us. If the river that was once used for drinking water is now filled with toxic chemicals where does one find a refreshing
In his essay, “Why I Hunt” readers have a chance to get a passionate hunter’s perceptive in what hunting is like. Rick Bass shares his story of an unplanned immigration west to the Yaak valley with his wife. He uses strong appeals to ethos to strengthen his credibility and build his argument. He describes in such details as the beauty of the nature that instantly makes him feel the connection as he arrives. Before he shared his hunting experiences he describes the forest with intense emotion by stating “The dense purples of the spruce and fir forests, the ivory crests of the ice-capped peaks, and the slender ribbons of gray thread rising from the chimneys of the few cabins nudged close to the winding river below, and we fell in love with the Yaak Valley and hard logged Kootenai National Forest” (Bass pp). Additionally, he calls the forest a “predator’s showcase” (Bass pp), informing readers that the forest shelters a variety of animals such as wolverines, bobcats, bald eagles, coyotes and so on. This is an emotional and powerful description that helps a reader imagine and paint a picture in their head of what the forest looks like. He is also justifying hunting by making this an ethical argument as well. Hunting has always been a very controversial topic. In fact, many
The decision to purposely cause harm to animals continues to affect the lives of hunters and those within the animal right’s movement. The rights, obligations and interests of all parties involved have to be taken into consideration when contemplating whether such treatment can be morally justified. John Elder’s article Duck Shooters Don’t See Themselves as Cruel Killers [...] (Published 27 March 2011) showcases hunter, Robert Hodder, who in his argument concentrates on the issue of pain, and the severity of it, towards animals, rather than the eradication of it all together. In this essay, I will explore the rights of animals and Hodder’s position that so clearly reflects today’s society.
Hunting was originally a resourceful activity and a necessity for survival. It was crucial to use the animal for food, clothes, and tools. With the exception of cultures who still depend on this method, there are many developed areas where this is not longer required. From the lack of needing to hunt animals for resources, sport hunting has emerged. This is the recreational act of killing animals to use as trophies. The problem with sport hunting is that it is an unnecessary and unreasonable activity that presents several dangers. In order to understand why, one must examine the effects it has on animals, humans, and the ecosystem. It is clear that sport hunting should have stricter regulations.
Can you imagine being left to suffer for countless hours after being wounded by an unknown person? As you lie on the cold ground, feeling your life slowly fade away, wondering what you did to deserve this. And then to end it all, a gunshot to the head. Unfortunately, this is how many animals suffer due to big game, trophy hunting. I am an avid proponent that big game hunting is a merciless tactic that needs to be eradicated from society, because it’s evident it burdens the animal to endure suffering, and by slaying these exotic creatures, it increases the population’s prospect to go extinct.
The people main fear is that the enjoyment of hunting is borderline for murderous un valid deaths of hundreds of animals. With no animals throughout the lands it then creates our near extension. A major event that puts hunting on the line of inhumane are glorified killing of innocent animals in rural places such as in China. Here dogs and others are skinned then burned all with a smile on their face, and what if the fates of these creatures was different . It very well could be, with the help of educating, the citizens along with those protesting the animal lives all be erased. Why not show the respect for these animals. The article Give Thanks for Meat shares Wislawa Szymborska’s poem in which he recites “ There is nothing more animal-like than a clear conscience on the third planet of the sun” (Bost). For the non poem majors this is simply saying it is unrealistic to think you will never kill anything. What a suitable way to show how it is our nature to
Animals are a key component to their ecosystem. It is because of trophy hunting that they continue to remain endangered, “Trophy hunters still kill around 105,000 animals in Africa every year. Including 600 elephants and 800 leopards, at a time when every individual is crucial to the survival of the species” (Schelling). This is a clear example of how many animals, not on U.S soil, have had their lives taken away for human recreation. Americans, on average, import 126,000 ‘trophies’ a year into this country, according to National Geographic. This has lead to the long moral debate centered around trophy hunting that not just American society has seen, but has been discussed in a global spotlight.
What goes through the minds of people when they think about trophy hunting? Hunting is the act of pursuing and killing live animals for food, recreation, or trade. Early human civilizations relied on hunting for subsistence. As humans and civilizations evolved, so did hunting. Hunting became a sport rather than a necessity. People who are for hunting claim that it helps control wildlife populations, whereas people against it believe that trophy hunting will lead to the extinction of certain animals. This paper will examine viewpoint one, two, and my viewpoint on trophy hunting being banned or not.
"Sport" hunting is a violent form of recreation that has left countless animals maimed, and orphaned animals vulnerable to starvation, exposure, and predation. This activity disrupts natural animal population dynamics and has contributed to the extinction of animal species all over the world, including the Tasmanian tiger and the great auk.(1,2)