Lifeboats & Trolley Cars

Argument Outline 3

ETHICS OF ACTIVISM: Animal Rights

Due Wednesday, October 15.

Consider these activities of animal rights activists:

1. There have been several firebombings of the homes of research scientists in California in recent years. Although no one has claimed responsibility, the police believe that they are the work of animal-rights extremists. There have also been many cases of personal threats, harassment, and vandalism of researchers’ private property. For instance, last February six masked intruders tried to force their way into the home of a UC-Santa Cruz researcher during a birthday party for her young daughter. One of the researchers targeted by a firebomb is a neurobiologist who uses mice in studies of how the brain’s visual system develops. News story and analysis here and here (also a class handout).

2. In 2004, animal activists illegally broke into a private egg production facility, owned and run by Wegmans, in Wolcott, NY. The facility housed 750,000 laying hens in battery cages and, other than being a very large farm, was similar to other egg farms across the country. The activists filmed the conditions, including dead and sick chickens in unsanitary conditions, and made the film widely available. The animal activists were sued by Wegmans, and Wegmans eventually sold the egg farm (though still uses it as a source of eggs). More information at http://www.wegmanscruelty.com/

3.  A number of animal rights activists have created alternatives to animal dissections in schools and colleges. These include models, videos, and interactive computer simulations. Examples can be seen here: http://www.peta.org/mc/factsheet_display.asp?ID=92

Pick one of these activities of animal rights activists (or some other activity that involves animal rights) and evaluate whether it can be ethically supported. If it cannot be supported, be sure to explain why. If it should be supported, evaluate whether doing so is an obligation or a merely a consideration. Depending on the case you pick and your argument supporting it, you might need to distinguish whether your position is in the realm of personal responsibility or public policy. You may support your view with any of the ethical frameworks we have considered so far: deontology, consequentialism, virtue, or justice.

Here are a few more links:

Wikipedia, “List of Animal Rights Groups”

Animal Liberation Front

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and PETA’s blog