"Is there an important moral difference between human beings and (other) animals?"

"Is there an important moral difference between human beings and (other) animals?" 'Morality' is a highly subjective issue. What may seem as 'morally wrong' to one person, may seem acceptable to another. An example of this may be whether or not it is 'morally wrong' to eat meat, and there is no right or wrong answer to this question. Through out this essay I shall try to discuss the 'moral difference' between human beings and other animals; however, it is difficult to define 'moral differences' because views on morality change from one person to the next. For example, certain religious beliefs claim that the cow is sacred and therefore it is 'morally wrong' to eat it, however, this opinion may be highly criticised by others with contrasting views. The ways in which we treat humans are extremely different to the ways in which we treat other animals. For example, we eat other animals, we wear certain animal fur, we put animals down when we feel it is necessary, we test and experiment on animals for scientific use, and the list goes on. However, it could be argued that these are not deliberate moral differences, but a result of what is considered socially acceptable in Western contemporary society. The thought of eating human flesh is regarded as 'disgusting', as is the thought of feeling sexually attracted to an animal. However, this may not be a moral concern,

  • Word count: 2098
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Biological Sciences
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Everyone should spay or neuter their pet dogs and cats. It benefits the pet, the pet owner, the community and even wild bird populations.

Spay or Neuter Your Pet Everyone should spay or neuter their pet dogs and cats. It benefits the pet, the pet owner, the community and even wild bird populations. Overpopulation of unwanted animals is a huge problem. According to The Humane Society, over 11 million dogs and cats a year are euthanized in the nations animal shelters. National estimates of the feral cat population vary from 30 million to 150 million; all of these feral cats kill wildlife, especially birds. In fact, Dr. Stanley Temple, a wildlife ecologist at the University of Wisconsin, states that "Nationwide, rural cats probably kill over a billion small mammals and hundreds of millions of birds each year ... World-wide cats may have been involved in the extinction of more bird species than any other cause, except habitat destruction."(WSJ 10-11-02;A-1). One female cat and her offspring can produce 420,000 cats over seven years, and one female dog and her offspring can produce 62,000 dogs over six years, according to The Humane Society's web page. Although altering the family pet alone will not cure this overpopulation problem, it will help to insure that the problem will not get worse. In many areas of the country drastic steps are being taken by communities to control feral cat populations. Many efforts are being made to trap, alter and release (TAR) feral cats. The benefits of these programs are

  • Word count: 696
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Biological Sciences
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Examine Jonson's use in Volpone of animal imagery

Examine Jonson's use in Volpone of animal imagery Volpone whilst being a satirical comedy can be considered a beast play, as all the principle characters are people, but have animal names and display characteristics of the animals they represent. Jonson was a Renaissance dramatist and poet and was concerned with classical precedent. In Volpone, Jonson adapts a traditional beast fable that is found in Aesop's fables and presents a moral ending. Jonson refers to Aesop's fable of the fox that cunningly tricks a crow into dropping its cheese, in act one scene two. As Volpone tricks Voltore into giving him "A piece of plate" (P115), he remarks to Mosca "and not a fox / Stretched on the earth, with fine delusive sleights, / Mocking a gaping crow?" (P115). I think this reference to the fable suggests how easily Volpone will take wealth from the other characters. Jonson refers to the same Aesop's fable again in act five, scene eight. "A witty merchant, the fine bird, Corvino, / That have such moral emblems on your name, / Should not have sung your shame, and dropped your cheese, / To let the Fox laugh at your emptiness." (P271) I think Jonson illustrates the fable directly in this quotation as the fox is laughing at the crow for dropping his presents and singing his out his declaration of cuckoldry to the court. The animal imagery in Volpone is very obvious immediately to

  • Word count: 1541
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Biological Sciences
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Antibiotic use in domestic animals - knock on effects to the environment IntroductionAntibiotics are extensively in livestock, fish

Elisabeth Fuller Page 1 05/05/2007 Antibiotic use in domestic animals - knock on effects to the environment Introduction Antibiotics are extensively in livestock, fish, and plant production worldwide. The effect that this has on the environment is widespread. All manners of the environment are affected. The main affect on the Plantae is through eutrophication. The waste from the domestic animals contains antibiotic resistant bacteria which enters the soil and contributes to the nitrogen-fixing that is taking place. This increases the rate of eutrophication and so many of the nutrients in the soil are leached out far more quickly than they are being replaced. This is obviously detrimental to the plants that need to gain their nutrients from this soil. They struggle to gain the necessary levels for basic survival and so become weak and eventually die if the process continues. However, the area that is going to be focussed on in this essay is how antibiotic use in domestic animals affects the human environment. This is particularly relevant at the present time due to the recent outbreak of bird flu. This epidemic demonstrates clearly how easily animal diseases can be contracted by a human. Abstract The transfer of bacteria between species is more common that it at first seems. Over recent years microbiologists have been gathering evidence that suggests that

  • Word count: 1596
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Biological Sciences
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Due to excessive whaling, many species of whale are near extinction.

By Ashlee Booth Due to excessive whaling, many species of whale are near extinction. Australia is opposed to whaling, but it is a Japanese tradition to eat whale meat, and taking whale consumption away from their culture would devastate the whole nation and economy. But do we, as one species have the right to kill off another species? Whales have a right to freedom just as much as we do, shouldn't they live normal lives the way mother nature intended them to? On the other hand, shouldn't Japan have the right to eat what they want to eat? This proposed sanctuary might give the whales' back their freedom, but what about Japans culture? Will a sanctuary help? If the proposed Southern Pacific Whale Sanctuary does go ahead, this would give the whales the much-needed time to repopulate. The population of whales have decreased immensely over the past generation. Estimated numbers as of the year 1997 show that the Blue Whales' original level was at 228,000 and in 1997 the Blue Whales' population was at is 11,700. That is a decrease of 216,300, that's 95%. As for the Humpback whale, their original population was 115,000 and now there are only approximately 10,000 left. That's a 91% decrease. Also for the Right Whale, there original level was 100,000, and now, there is only 3200, that's 96% of the population gone. It is clearly evident, just from viewing the population decreases in

  • Word count: 1558
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Biological Sciences
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Animals in Captivity - Should or Should Not Be Kept.

Animals in Captivity - Should or Should Not Be Kept P4 Should Animals can be kept in captivity for many reasons for the benefit of themselves or us humans. Here are some points as to why it's good to keep animals in captivity. * Captive breeding programs Captive breeding preserves endangered species from extinction. Breeding in captivity removes the treats that would normally prevent breeding in the wild or the survival of the young. It may be the only chance for that species to survive. Captive breeding plays a significant role in conserving species. Reintroduction is the ultimate goal of every captive-breeding program. Once the level of species in captivity has reached a sustainable high some can be introduced into the wild. * Educational purposes Having animals in captivity for education and research gives people a greater understanding of how they develop, breed, live and would act in the wild. Mission statement from Paignton Zoo: Our mission is to create an awareness and appreciation of the natural world and to motivate and enable people of all ages to respect and care for our environment. * Scientific research Animals are sometimes kept in captivity for science purposes. They are used to test products, such as medication, on that might otherwise harm humans. * Sanctuaries Sanctuaries are set up for wild animals that have been rescued or injured and are

  • Word count: 1071
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Biological Sciences
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This House Would Ban All Experiments on Animals.

This House Would Ban All Experiments on Animals The first reason why I believe that all experiments on animals should be banned is because it is totally against all our morals. Humans aren't superior to animals and should most certainly not have the power of life or death over another living species, whether it can speak or not. All animals have emotions and can feel pain, and it's cruel to make animals suffer for the benefit of humans. Apart from this, the living conditions of the animals are catastrophic. Chimpanzees, which are often tested on share 98.4% of their DNA with humans. How would you feel if you were stuck in a cage where there is so little room, you can't even move, and you know that in a matter of days, you are going to be injected with life-threatening chemicals? You know there is a strong possibility you are going to suffer huge amounts of pain, or perhaps even die. Another reason to ban all experiments on animals is the reliability of these tests. Dosing a mouse or a rabbit with drugs won't have the same effect on humans, and the chances of these tests resulting in a cure is next-to-nothing. The most common way in which these tests are performed is by dripping substances into rabbits' eyes, which would obviously cause tremendous pain, or applying it to the shaved backs of rabbits or guinea pigs and studying the resulting irritation or damage. Animals

  • Word count: 545
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Biological Sciences
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The Camel.

Guy Mitchell 2nd draft 23 June 2003 The Camel As a child my father worked hard and seemed to be constantly at work. My mother enjoyed various activities set up by the WI and parish society and every Friday my mother went to sewing club. I would stay at my grandfather's house. He was jolly but a slightly bewildered aging man. He had been an officer in the Great War who got shot in the leg during his time in Belgium and received many and silver and gold medals that he cherished but would not tell me what they were for. He lived alone in a grand Edwardian Mansion but only used three rooms. I barely saw him while I was there. He would sit in the living room and read a book for five minutes after which he would fall asleep. I would run through the long corridors upsetting dust that had not been touched for twenty years. Every now and then pushing open a heavy door, listing to the creek, trying not to breath in immediately for the amount of dust. I held the door open worried that it might close behind me and that I would not be able to open it again. I would look around for the brass rim of the light switch. I would flick it down and the bare bulb would flick on for a moment. I would see the room and then it would flick out of sight and then back in. The next moment it would go out. This went on until the bulb had made up its mind whether to stay on or keep itself off. If

  • Word count: 998
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Biological Sciences
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To what extent we can say animals have language

To what extent we can say animals have language? Many pet owners probably like to think that they talk with their pets and these if not response, at least understand. But whether this is really true and pets and generally animals are capable of understanding language and furthermore, whether they are capable of meaningfully communicating between themselves remains without a clear answer. The question whether humans are or are not the only species capable of language can be answered only after deeper analysis, which can be carried out by taking into account and comparing main characteristics of language. To begin with, it might be helpful to form a definition of a language. There was a number of attempts to define language but the one that is the closest to the full definition of language is that of Charles Hockett. Over ten years Hockett was trying to define language by determining the main properties of human language. The longest list consist of 16 design features or essential characteristics (Aitchinson, 1989) The discussion below will examine some of these in greater detail in order to find out to what degree it is possible to say that animals have the ability of language. First of all, there is the use of vocal-auditory channel, which is one of the most obvious features of language and simply means that communication is generated by vocal organs and hearing mechanism

  • Word count: 1528
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Biological Sciences
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Are there any circumstances in which it would be acceptale to use animals for scientific research?

Are there any circumstances in which it would be acceptable to use animals for scientific research? Answer: Man has been entrusted with the right by the nature to be the king of the globe. Life of human is ever valuable and important than other living matters. So, any step for the betterment of human civilization through the use of other living things is acceptable. But it again does not mean that animals don't have any rights. Yes, they have but the extent of their right should not be the obligation to human progress. So, animals can be used in scientific researches under certain circumstances provided that they guarantee the betterment of human lives without torturing used animals.-103 Firstly, scientists need to use animals in their research when there are no alternatives to obtain desired results besides using animals. They need to make it clear in front of public and government authorities that animals are sole matters which are the basis of their experiment that is going to be carried out for human welfare rather than for devastating purpose. Again, it is most that they need to assure authorities or let them check that positive outcomes of the research are apparently possible and plausible as well as valuable. So, animals can be used in scientific research basically when there are no alternatives and results are likely and favorable for human benefit.-110 Secondly,

  • Word count: 830
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Biological Sciences
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