Rights and duties under the law of nature:contractarianism and the Moral Status of Animals

This is a philosophical inquiry into the moral status of animals, focusing on which ethical principle should guide us in our relationship with animals. The author examines the case for applying contractarian theory to animals other than human beings by looking in particular at the issues of rational...

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Main Author: William Bull
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina 2005-01-01
Series:Ethic@: an International Journal for Moral Philosophy
Online Access:https://periodicos.ufsc.br/index.php/ethic/article/view/14809
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author William Bull
author_facet William Bull
author_sort William Bull
collection DOAJ
description This is a philosophical inquiry into the moral status of animals, focusing on which ethical principle should guide us in our relationship with animals. The author examines the case for applying contractarian theory to animals other than human beings by looking in particular at the issues of rationality and trusteeship. From the law of nature and by way of a contractarian approach the author arrives at the principle of humility, which he advances as the ideal basis for our behaviour in respect of animals. He then tests certain prevailing philosophical positions in this area, including those of Singer and Regan, exploring utilitarian and rights conceptions. Finally, the author considers the significance of the principle of humility in practical terms in order to evaluate its utility as a moral judgment.
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spelling doaj-art-4d7c08cd519047c58cebef46d14978522025-08-20T02:40:36ZengUniversidade Federal de Santa CatarinaEthic@: an International Journal for Moral Philosophy1677-29542005-01-014111959Rights and duties under the law of nature:contractarianism and the Moral Status of AnimalsWilliam BullThis is a philosophical inquiry into the moral status of animals, focusing on which ethical principle should guide us in our relationship with animals. The author examines the case for applying contractarian theory to animals other than human beings by looking in particular at the issues of rationality and trusteeship. From the law of nature and by way of a contractarian approach the author arrives at the principle of humility, which he advances as the ideal basis for our behaviour in respect of animals. He then tests certain prevailing philosophical positions in this area, including those of Singer and Regan, exploring utilitarian and rights conceptions. Finally, the author considers the significance of the principle of humility in practical terms in order to evaluate its utility as a moral judgment.https://periodicos.ufsc.br/index.php/ethic/article/view/14809
spellingShingle William Bull
Rights and duties under the law of nature:contractarianism and the Moral Status of Animals
Ethic@: an International Journal for Moral Philosophy
title Rights and duties under the law of nature:contractarianism and the Moral Status of Animals
title_full Rights and duties under the law of nature:contractarianism and the Moral Status of Animals
title_fullStr Rights and duties under the law of nature:contractarianism and the Moral Status of Animals
title_full_unstemmed Rights and duties under the law of nature:contractarianism and the Moral Status of Animals
title_short Rights and duties under the law of nature:contractarianism and the Moral Status of Animals
title_sort rights and duties under the law of nature contractarianism and the moral status of animals
url https://periodicos.ufsc.br/index.php/ethic/article/view/14809
work_keys_str_mv AT williambull rightsanddutiesunderthelawofnaturecontractarianismandthemoralstatusofanimals