Abstract

The author deals with certain historical, sociocultural, and economic aspects that supposedly influence the Brazilian ethos regarding the morality of the treatment of animals. The first of these is the legacy of the Brazilian slave-owning past. The second characteristic is the strong presence of emotivity and passion in Brazilian popular psychology and how this affects public debates in Brazil. The third factor is the absence of the habit of engaging in social protest in favor of ethics and worthy causes. The fourth trait is the influence of Catholic doctrine in the country. The last point is the impact of adverse social circumstances on the moral desensitization of the population to the situation of animals—especially commonplace violence, social exclusion, and poverty in Brazil.