Environmental ethics and the moral status of animals

Abstract

Abstract: This thesis addresses the question: what sorts of beings can have moral status that demands direct duties? It argues for a position that all animals have moral status equal to humans, and this dictates how we should behave toward them. This position must be defended against an anthropocentric position. The arguments from marginal cases propounded by Peter Singer and Tom Regan ascribe the same moral status to our fellow animals, which are sentient or subjects-of-a-life. Singera??s view is criticized as defective and a different argument is proposed that goes beyond utilitarianism. Beings, which are neither sentient nor subjects-of-a-life, fall within the moral boundary, although they may not have the moral status of the latter. This position is related to that of Aldo Leopold and J Baird. Callicott, but rejects their assumption of equal inherent value for all entities. It argues instead for the deontological importance of preserving natural environment for sentient beings/subjects-of-a-life. LogoutThesis Submission If any information is not correct, please inform the Registrar's Office immediately.Enter the keywords and abstract of your thesis and click NEXT.Title Environmental ethics and the moral status of animals Author F. M. ZAMIRUL ISLAM Keywords(6 keywords) Abstract(maximum of 150 words) Year of First Submission 2004 Type of Document Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Language ENGLISH MALAY CHINESE JAPANESE Degree MASTER OF ARTS Level MASTER'S DEGREE Department PHILOSOPHY 2222