Deck 39: Equality for Animals Peter Singer

Question 1

Singer argues that the principle of equal consideration of interests

A) applies only to rational beings, whether they are human or not.
B) applies to all and only humans.
C) extends to nonhumans.
D) applies only to those humans capable of giving and asking for reasons.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

According to utilitarianism, the vital characteristic entitling a being to equal consideration is its capacity to

A) reason.
B) suffer.
C) speak.
D) empathize with others.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Singer argues that if we are prepared to perform painful experiments on nonhumans, the moral principle of equal consideration of interests requires that we be equally prepared to perform such experiments on

A) any beings with capacities for suffering similar to those of the nonhumans in question.
B) adult humans.
C) humans who have been found guilty of harming others.
D) any other nonhumans with similar capacities for suffering.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Singer believes that the superior mental powers of normal human beings

A) endow them with a special moral value-dignity-that most or all nonhumans lack.
B) give their interests greater moral weight.
C) affect the level of suffering of which they are capable.
D) make them more likely to perform immoral acts.

Question 5

Singer would consider bias favoring the interests of members of one's own species as morally similar to

A) racism.
B) sexism.
C) homophobia.
D) All of the above

Question 6

Singer identifies which of the following as the foundation stone of an ethic that sees nonhumans as fit objects for human use?

A) the use of animals for food
B) the use of animals for entertainment
C) the use of animals for transportation
D) the use of animals as domestic companions

Question 7

Singer's principle of equal consideration of interests does not allow _______ interests to be sacrificed for _______ interests.

A) human; nonhuman
B) major; minor
C) minor; a smaller quantity of major
D) rational; non-rational

Question 8

Singer believes we can know about the pleasure and pain experienced by other beings by

A) communicating with them nonverbally.
B) no available means; we must remain agnostic.
C) discussing it with them.
D) observing their behavior.

Question 9

To those who argue that humans and nonhumans are fundamentally different kinds of beings, and thus are morally unequal, Singer replies that

A) this is empirically true in the case of the manufacture of tools but involves a bad inference.
B) this is empirically true in the case of language but involves a bad inference.
C) this is empirically false and based on a bad inference.
D) this is empirically false but based on a valid inference.

Question 10

Singer's response to the slippery slope argument in defense of speciesism is that

A) there is no real risk of our treating humans worse, so deeply rooted is our pro-human bias.
B) improving our treatment of animals is worth the risk of a slippery slope.
C) his purpose is to elevate the status of nonhumans rather than to lower the status of humans.
D) it refutes itself.

Question 11

Jeremy Bentham was one of the philosophers who recognized that the principle of equal consideration of interests extends beyond the human race.

Question 12

Singer claims that the capacity for suffering is a precondition for having any interests at all.

Question 13

"Sentience" is Singer's term for a being's capacity to rationally deliberate with others.

Question 14

According to Singer, the fact that a nonhuman is less intelligent than a normal human may cause it suffer more in similar circumstances.

Question 15

Singer allows that while nonhuman interests matter morally, the suffering of human beings should be given more weight than the similar suffering of nonhumans.

Question 16

Singer believes that it is possible to make precise comparisons of suffering between members of the same, but not of different, species.

Question 17

Singer claims that one can never directly experience another being's pain or pleasure, whether they are human or not.

Question 18

Singer rejects the claim that self-aware beings are inherently more valuable by virtue of possessing this trait.

Question 19

While Singer allows that a diet based on animal products is necessary for full human health and well-being, he maintains its immorality in modern industrial conditions.

Question 20

Singer maintains that his principle of moral equality cannot justify giving greater weight to the interests of a self-aware being simply because they are self-aware.

Question 21

What is Singer's basic principle of moral equality? How does he use the example of racism (and by implication other prejudices) to help defend it? Do you think the analogy is valid?

Question 22

What's the moral significance of the capacity for suffering, according to Singer? What other attributes are sometimes put forward as morally relevant? Do any of these give special weight or value to a being's life or interests? Say why. And, if so, how would Singer respond?

Question 23

Are humans in modern industrial conditions justified in eating animals? Why or why not? Be sure to engage with Singer's critique of animal use in making your case.