Question

Question -----> 1) Your state or country likely has a law prohibiting cruelty to animals. What are some animals that you are legally allowed to kill with a painful death in your country or state? So what is the concept of animal, legally in your state or country?

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Point of View

1. Describe the difference between your instructor’s point of view on the subject matter of this Environmental Health course, and your point of view.
2. Describe two prominent points of view within the discipline that you are studying (your major).
3. Describe your point of view on the issue of memorization and regurgitation of facts versus critical thinking in your classes.
4. The editors of an anthology in social ethics describe the views of Peter Singer, a famous advocate of animal rights.

“Singer rejects speciesism, which he defines as a prejudice or attitude of bias in favor of the interests of members of one’s own species and against those of members of other species. In his view, speciesism is analogous to racism and sexism. Just as we have a moral obligation to give equal consideration to the interests of all human beings, regardless of sex or skin color, so too, we have a moral obligation to give equal consideration to the interest of animals. Insofar as animals, like humans, have the capacity to suffer, they have an interest in not suffering. Not to take that interest into account is speciesist and immoral.”

Describe Singer’s point of view in your own words—not the editor’s words.

Answer 1

ANSWER PART 1 :-

1. Being a resident of India, there are various laws projected by the Government towards safety of wildlife and plants and conservation of biodiversity. Abiding by the principles put forth by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), there are major collaborations of NGO's and environmental activists in enforcing powerful laws and keeping a check whether these are being obeyed.
2. One law is the Forest Conservation Act which became functional from 1980. It inhibits restricted use of forest lands for external purposes without Government permission and enhances protection of diverse forest patches in the nation.
3. Wildlife Protection Act was put forth by the Indian Government in the year 1972 which restricts killing of wild and endangered animals and is focussed on conservation of endemic species. One such animal is the Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps) which is considered as a critically endangered species mainly due to hunting activities. Its population used to flourish and now is restricted to the Deccan region. Cruelty is seen in slaughterhouses although the Wildlife Protection Act basically tend to restrict killing of many wild animals and animals which are basically used to obtain meat include Poultry, Goats, Bull, Sheep, etc although this is being proceeded with taking into consideration their population and breeding activities undertaken in particular region and licenses are provided due to which the numbers of these animals are regulated according to the Government schemes. But still cruelty is seen in some cases such as removing eyes of shrimp which in turn enhances their reproductive potential, cutting beaks of chicken (small chicks) so that they do not harm each other and the list continues.

ANSWER PART 2 :-

SINGER'S VIEWS

1. Basically, Singer's views indicates that there is always a bias associated when there is a comparison carried out between a human and other animal (not a human). In short, the humans are given more preference than the other animals.
2. The animals except humans too face similar sufferings as a human can although they are being made devoid of their rights in certain aspects as compared to humans. There is a distinct advantage given to the species of humans (Homo sapiens) as compared to other non related species.
3. This is considered to be very similar to racism and sexism which according to human understandings and social proceedings, should be avoided and thus in short should indeed prohibit discrimination in terms of appearance, gender, etc and thus equal rights, opportunities and freedom should be provided to all. This forms the moral base and the entire system works on these ethics and principles.
4. In case of animals, such considerations are avoided and hence this is called as speciesism and the individual or group showing acceptance of these imposition is a speciesism and immoral.

Note :- Respected Sir, for any doubts please prefer communicating through comment section and please provide an upvote if the answer seems satisfactory. For the questions that are unanswered are those which have to be answered according to the views of your teacher and mostly related to the content taught in your class and hence is not possible to answer.