Utilitarianism on Animal Rights - Essay Sample

Introduction

Utilitarianism on animal rights perceives that the society should act in a manner that ensures living creatures are in a happy mode. The theory was designed to ensure that society members' and creatures' wellbeing are taken into consideration when it comes t the satisfaction and happiness. Utilitarianism believes that animal exploitation should only occur when happiness derived from the action exceed the harm. The theory assumes that individuals should take into account both suffering and happiness in the realization of a peaceful and fair environment. The use of Utilitarianism theory significantly leads to the violation of animals which is accompanied by more harm, and eventually, the animals get deprived of their lives (Killoren, & Streiffer, 2020). The theory aids in the realization of happiness in the world and emphasizes the need to practice equality on the treatment of both humans and non-humans in the community.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

Violation of Animal Rights: The Current State of Animal Welfare

The utilitarianism on animal rights is not evident in the current world due to the growing incidence of harm to the animals. The harm caused on the animals significantly causes suffering as opposed to the utilitarianism perspective on happiness. Research has it that in the United States of America, animals' rights have been considerably violated with up to 10 billion animals subjected to suffering (Killoren, & Streiffer, 2020). It is also evident that the majority of the human population prefers the consumption of gustatory obtained from the animals (Killoren, & Streiffer, 2020). The product's significance contributes to more torture and brutality to the animals for the satisfaction of the human wants. The act has made humans view animals as slaves failing to recognize the significant role the animals' play in society. Moreover, the suffering humans inflict on the animals depicts the utilitarianism principle. According to Regan (2017), "actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness."

Utilitarianism's Defense of Zoos and Factory Farming

Utilitarianism ethical theory is vocal in defending Zoos and Factory farming practices that negatively impact on the animals' lives. Moreover, utilitarianism perceives the practices to be a violation of animal rights as it creates unhappiness on animal parks and health. Utilitarianism grants animal rights the possibility of being tampered with for the benefit of the others in the realization of maximum utility. I believe that it is ideal for the violation of animal rights in the incidences of poverty (Davies, 2017). Since the majority of the populations are in starvation and the event the population fails to get the majority of the animals' slattered, then the country is likely to face the challenge of malnutrition and even death cases. Moreover, utilitarianism effectiveness realization is when maximum happiness is derived; thereby the harmed individual does not impact the actual act.

Utilitarianism and Biomedical Research on Animals

Utilitarianism on animal rights violation is acceptable in the event of conducting biomedical research that requires a clear result, even if the specimen (animal) on a test gets harmed, what matters is the final results meant to generate happiness to the observer and the general population (Davies, 2017). Therefore, I have realized that the utilitarianism theory on animal rights is majorly concerned with how utilization of animals to obtaining maximum utility. Utilitarianism theory on animal rights does not include the abolition of animal exploitation.

Utilitarianism theory on animals fails to provide a clear cut between right and wrong. Consequently, the theory fails to depict what is better and what is worse. For instance, the eating of a pig accompanied by torture is a violation of animal rights. Thereby, utilitarianism fails to provide a clear cut difference since the majority that will derive benefit from the tortured pig will have obtained maximum utility and happiness in the long-run. Thus, posing a challenge on whether puppies' pigs' torture is acceptable or not (Killoren, & Streiffer, 2020). For instance, the Islamic states have abolished the eating of pigs terming the incidence as a violation of animal rights and also perceiving the animal as unclean.

Advocating for Animal Rights: The Role of Humans in Caring for Animals

Utilitarianism advocates for animals' rights by emphasizing that humans should take a center state in caring for the animals subjected to harm. Such an act should be conducted even with individuals who did not take part in causing harm to the animal. In doing so, it will significantly trigger maximum happiness to animals that can be happy. Therefore, it is the role of humans to care for the animals. The provision of care to the animals significantly contributes to greater happiness (Davies, 2017). Thus, the increasing harm on animals creates the need for a utilitarian impact on the environment.

Moreover, I have come to realize that happiness in work comes from great suffering. The animals are more vulnerable to harm and torture acts, and this instead creates unhappiness and a violation of animal rights throughout the world. The violation of animal rights does not depict the utilitarianism principle on morally legitimate measures of grading happiness obtained by humans.

Conclusion

In conclusion, from utilitarianism, happiness is derived from the suffering of animals. Humans subject animals to suffering to gain access to food and labour. I have realized that happiness goes hand in hand with suffering. Therefore, it is significant for humans to care for the animal and avoid the violation of animal rights.

References

Davies, B. (2017). Utilitarianism and animal cruelty: Further doubts. De Ethica. A Journal of Philosophical, Theological and Applied Ethics, 3(3), 5-19.

Killoren, D., & Streiffer, R. (2020). Utilitarianism about animals and the moral significance of use. Philosophical Studies, 177(4), 1043-1063.

Regan, T. (2017). The case for animal rights. In Animal rights (pp. 17-30). Routledge.