Practical Ethics

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Animals right- Whale Shark in extinction

 

 

Reflection on animal rights arose from the fact that most people think that animals do not necessarily have to be protected. This thought derives from the idea that only living beings who are aware of themselves, of their personal history, who have impressions that they know how to interpret and place in conceptual networks (human beings) need to be protected and cared for. So, heres the question, are animals aware of themselves, their autobiography and their impressions?
 

According to Aristotle, animals have a sensitive soul, but not an intellectual soul, since this belongs only to humans. Thus, animals do not deserve any moral consideration.
In another line of thought (Utilitarianism), the philosopher Jeremy Bentham (1748 – 1832)
argued that there is no reason for there to be differences between animals and human beings, because what really matters is sentience, not rationality. Therefore, it does not matter if animals are irrational or if they do not have the ability to reflect or verbalize what is happening, but that they can suffer or feel pleasure.
 

Currently, the philosopher Peter Singer (born:1946) who is known for his works on Practical Ethics, addresses the problem of animal rights, believing that both animals and people are sentient beings, that is, they are capable of having and feeling sensations and impressions.
 

However, only some animals such as dolphins, gorillas, whales and even whale sharks will be able to be aware of themselves, acquiring a status of non-human persons, therefore with their own rights. It also launches an important idea about a new imperative to put into practice with all animals: to minimize their suffering and maximize their well-being.
 

For centuries, animals were seen as “things”, beings without rights, that is, they were seen as mere means, because human beings considered themselves superior to any other species.
 

Societys mentality has changed, the speciesist prejudice that we are superior to animals has diminished in recent times. However, we still observe the extinction of several animals, such as our beloved whale shark. This animal, known for swimming in specific waters, is at risk of extinction due, above all, to the demand for meat, fins (used in the production of aphrodisiac and medicinal soups), oil and skin used to create bags. We see that this species is highly valuable for the international market and this is the main threat to the conservation of these animals.

 

As already mentioned, animals have rights, but in the case of endangered animals, respect for their rights must be more demanded and demanding. Because they are on the verge of extinction and the principle of maximizing their welfare, whale sharks gain moral status and legal protection.
 

In the middle of the 21st century, it is a fact that we live in a free world, where freedom counts for both human beings and animals. After all, the Earth doesnt belong to us, so we dont have the right to attack species just because we think were superior. That is, we all (human beings and animals) have rights!