Ethical Issues In Animal Agriculture
Ethical Issues in Animal Agriculture
What is the proper human-animal relationship? There isn't an easy answer to this question. Views range from one extreme to the other. These views range from believing humans have unlimited rights over animals, without constraint on their treatment of animals, to believing that animals are naturally entitled to the same rights as humans. With such debate over differential philosophies, controversy has emerged over such issues as genetic engineering of animals, using animals in laboratory research, confinement livestock production, using pesticides to kill insects, and even eating meat.
History
The concern for the well-being of other animals probably first arose as a system of thought in the Indus Valley Civilization as the religious belief that ancestors return in animal form, and that animals must therefore be treated with respect due to a human (Animal Welfare, 2). The animal rights movement can trace its roots back to the late 18th and early 19th century. The movement of animal rights began out of an organized effort to abolish cruelty to animals in England and America. In England, a man named Richard Martin tried to convince the English Parliament that some animals have some rights (Animal Rights, p. 1). After Martins convincing argument of animal rights, a bill was passed for the prevention of cruel and improper treatment of cattle as early as 1822. After this bill was passed similar anti-cruelty laws were passed in New York in 1828, Massachusetts in 1835, and Connecticut and Wisconsin in 1838. So, England had the first legislation and organizations formed for the prevention of cruelty to animals, but many American states followed England's stance on animal cruelty.
Some important events in animal rights history includes anything from organizations being formed to new laws being passed. The first significant event that was important to Animal Rights History is the formation...
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