If the animals are bred to be killed
Then it's totally okay to kill them
This a pretty underhand excuse to justify the exploitation and killing of animals, as it's the very people who want to do the killing who breed them into existence in the first place. Using this logic implies that simply by pre-stating your intentions, any action that follows is automatically ethical.
The problem with this viewpoint is particularly clear when we see how most western meat eaters become uncomfortable (or outright furious) at the idea of cats or dogs being specifically bred for their meat in other countries. The same hypocrisy is also present in those who disagree with animals being bred and killed for their fur, or the current hot topic of orcas being bred and held in captivity by Sea World.
There is no moral difference between any of these actions. We have no biological need to eat cow or pig flesh any more than that of a cat or a dog. We don't need to wear fur or visit Sea World any more than we need to eat bacon, hamburgers or cheese. We do all these things simply because it brings us pleasure. In each situation the animals are being bred for a specific purpose, yet most would agree that doesn't automatically make those purposes ethical. Dogs are bred specifically to be used in dog fights, bulls to be tortured and killed in the bullfighting ring, and millions of animals are bred into a life of torture in the pointless testing of cosmetics.
According to the 'bred to be killed' argument though, all of these actions are perfectly acceptable.
Artificially breeding someone into existence doesn't automatically create the moral right to do whatever we want to them. We're still bound by the moral code we've agreed upon as a society - that needlessly hurting
and killing those who can feel is unacceptable - but we simply brush this moral code under the carpet for a handful of unfortunate animals whose flesh and secretions we want to consume.
The problem with this viewpoint is particularly clear when we see how most western meat eaters become uncomfortable (or outright furious) at the idea of cats or dogs being specifically bred for their meat in other countries. The same hypocrisy is also present in those who disagree with animals being bred and killed for their fur, or the current hot topic of orcas being bred and held in captivity by Sea World.
There is no moral difference between any of these actions. We have no biological need to eat cow or pig flesh any more than that of a cat or a dog. We don't need to wear fur or visit Sea World any more than we need to eat bacon, hamburgers or cheese. We do all these things simply because it brings us pleasure. In each situation the animals are being bred for a specific purpose, yet most would agree that doesn't automatically make those purposes ethical. Dogs are bred specifically to be used in dog fights, bulls to be tortured and killed in the bullfighting ring, and millions of animals are bred into a life of torture in the pointless testing of cosmetics.
According to the 'bred to be killed' argument though, all of these actions are perfectly acceptable.
Artificially breeding someone into existence doesn't automatically create the moral right to do whatever we want to them. We're still bound by the moral code we've agreed upon as a society - that needlessly hurting
and killing those who can feel is unacceptable - but we simply brush this moral code under the carpet for a handful of unfortunate animals whose flesh and secretions we want to consume.
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Below are a couple of videos showing the kinds of things that happen when these animals are bred
into existence (not to mention the horrors that come later). Please ask yourself if the fact that
these acts were planned out in advance makes what is happening to these animals ethical.
into existence (not to mention the horrors that come later). Please ask yourself if the fact that
these acts were planned out in advance makes what is happening to these animals ethical.
A pig breeding facility
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A chicken breeding facility.
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"Whenever people say ‘We mustn’t be sentimental’ you can take it they are
about to do something cruel. And if they add ‘We must be realistic’ they
mean they are going to make money out of it."
Brigid Brophy
about to do something cruel. And if they add ‘We must be realistic’ they
mean they are going to make money out of it."
Brigid Brophy