Scruton's Arguments About The Position Of Animals

Singer and Scruton both present arguments about the position that animals hold in our moral sphere. Singer presents the argument that animals ought to be fully integrated into our moral community and treated equally to humans. Scruton makes a moral distinction between humans and animals, and believes that we are justified in domesticating and eating them. I agree with Scruton’s point that humans should be treated uniquely from animals and that humans do have something morally distinct about them. However, it is important to understand that animals do have the capacity to suffer and we should not exploit them strictly because we find their meat appetizing. In order to understand my argument and perspective it is important to recognize

In contrast to utilitarianism, this ethical approach takes on that we have duties to act in accordance to certain values that are considered virtuous in order to achieve the good life. First off, Scruton makes the distinction between humans and animals by expressing our capacity for certain emotions that by far outweigh the capacity of animals. He goes on to say that human beings connect “in a special way, through the give and take of practical reason, and its associated concepts of justice, duty and right” (Scruton 49). He continues to explain that human beings are capable of self reflection on our actions and duty, right and wrong, and justice forces humans to take on this self-reflective perspective. This perspective is unlike the nonhuman animal experience because nonhuman animals are unable to make a special connection with any animal through practical reasoning. The relationship is rather one sided, with the human feeling the concern for the animal’s well being and purpose, but the animal incapable of reasoning these considerations for the human. Secondly, Scruton argues that humans eat in a way that is distinct from animals. Humans eat less for the simple reason of providing nutrition to our bodies, but eating is also an experience of community and connection with others. This is where Scruton makes his distinction between the virtuous carnivore and the vicious carnivore. Scruton thinks that it is important to eat with manners because it is virtuous to consider the others eating with you and the conversation at hand. Also, he believes it is virtuous to eat with the right pace as to not give into gluttony an unfavorable value. He then goes on to articulate his view that it is the virtuous thing to do to consider the benefits and harms of your action. Scruton makes it clear that he does not believe that animal