Moral agency in other animals

Theoretical Medicine and Bioethics 27 (4):357-373 (2006)
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Abstract

Some philosophers have argued that moral agency is characteristic of humans alone and that its absence from other animals justifies granting higher moral status to humans. However, human beings do not have a monopoly on moral agency, which admits of varying degrees and does not require mastery of moral principles. The view that all and only humans possess moral agency indicates our underestimation of the mental lives of other animals. Since many other animals are moral agents (to varying degrees), they are also subject to (limited) moral obligations, examples of which are provided in this paper. But, while moral agency is sufficient for significant moral status, it is by no means necessary.

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Citations of this work

In Defense of Eating Meat.Timothy Hsiao - 2015 - Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics 28 (2):277-291.
A Practice‐Focused Case for Animal Moral Agency.Dorna Behdadi - 2021 - Journal of Applied Philosophy 38 (2):226-243.

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References found in this work

The case for animal rights.Tom Regan - 2011 - In Steven M. Cahn (ed.), Exploring ethics: an introductory anthology. Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 425-434.
Taking Animals Seriously: Mental Life and Moral Status.David DeGrazia (ed.) - 1996 - New York: Cambridge University Press.
Morals, reason, and animals.Steve F. Sapontzis - 1987 - Philadelphia: Temple University Press.

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