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Single Idea 4280

[filed under theme 23. Ethics / E. Utilitarianism / 1. Utilitarianism ]

Full Idea

It was precisely the inability of utilitarianism to explain the distinction between animals and people which led to its rejection.

Gist of Idea

Utilitarianism is wrong precisely because it can't distinguish animals from people

Source

Roger Scruton (Animal Rights and Wrongs [1996], p.50)

Book Ref

Scruton,Roger: 'Animal Rights and Wrongs' [Demos 1996], p.50

A Reaction

A nice turning of the tables, rejecting the utilitarian pride in incorporating animals into their theory where others (like Kant) reject them. Yet in one respect (suffering) they are inescapably very like us.

The 33 ideas from 'Animal Rights and Wrongs'

4295 We favour our own animals over foreign ones because we see them as fellow citizens [Scruton]
4296 Brutal animal sports are banned because they harm the personality of the watcher [Scruton]
4263 Many of the stranger forms of life (e.g. worms) interest us only as a species, not as individuals [Scruton]
4264 Perception (which involves an assessment) is a higher state than sensation [Scruton]
4266 Having beliefs involves recognition, expectation and surprise [Scruton]
4265 If an animal has beliefs, that implies not only that it can make mistakes, but that it can learn from them [Scruton]
4267 Conditioning may change behaviour without changing the mind [Scruton]
4268 Animals command our sympathy and moral concern initially because of their intentionality [Scruton]
4269 An emotion is a motive which is also a feeling [Scruton]
4270 Do we use reason to distinguish people from animals, or use that difference to define reason? [Scruton]
4271 There is consciousness whenever behaviour must be explained in terms of mental activity [Scruton]
4272 Our concept of a person is derived from Roman law [Scruton]
4273 Kant's Moral Law is the rules rational beings would accept when trying to live by agreement [Scruton]
4274 The modern virtues are courage, prudence, wisdom, temperance, justice, charity and loyalty [Scruton]
4276 An animal has individuality if it is nameable, and advanced animals can respond to their name [Scruton]
4277 I may avoid stepping on a spider or flower, but fellow-feeling makes me protect a rabbit [Scruton]
4278 Lucky animals are eaten by large predators, the less lucky starve, and worst is death by small predators [Scruton]
4279 We can easily remove the risk of suffering from an animal's life, but we shouldn't do it [Scruton]
4280 Utilitarianism is wrong precisely because it can't distinguish animals from people [Scruton]
4282 Morality is not a sort of calculation, it is what sets the limits to when calculation is appropriate [Scruton]
4281 Utilitarianism says we can't blame Stalin yet, but such a theory is a sick joke [Scruton]
4283 Sympathy can undermine the moral order just as much as crime does [Scruton]
4284 All moral life depends ultimately on piety, which is our recognition of our own dependence [Scruton]
4285 As soon as we drop self-interest and judge impartially, we find ourselves agreeing about conflicts [Scruton]
4286 Only just people will drop their own self-interests when faced with an impartial verdict [Scruton]
4287 Utilitarianism merely guides us (by means of sympathy) when the moral law is silent [Scruton]
4288 Many breeds of animals have needs which our own ancestors planted in them [Scruton]
4289 Sheep and cattle live comfortable lives, and die an enviably easy death [Scruton]
4290 That which can only be done by a callous person, ought not to be done [Scruton]
4292 Concern for one animal may harm the species, if the individual is part of a bigger problem [Scruton]
4291 Letting your dog kill wild rats, and keeping rats for your dog to kill, are very different [Scruton]
4293 Introducing a natural means of controlling animal population may not be very compassionate [Scruton]
4294 Animals are outside the community of rights, but we still have duties towards them [Scruton]