Human and Animal Interrelationships from Domestication to Present - Term Paper Example

Theories have been advanced to give an in-depth explanation of the scope of animal ethics as they try to explain the boundaries within which animal ethics should exist and what human beings are expected to do in order to ensure their moral obligation as far as animal ethics is concerned. There are three groups of theories that have been advanced so far that try to explain issues concerning animal ethics and morality. They include; indirect theories, direct moral theories and moral equality theories (Beauchamp).

Therefore, this paper examines issues concerning animal ethics and morality by examining the above theories. Indirect theories are against animal ethics as they argue that animals are not entitled to any form of moral status or equal considerations to man since they lack consciousness (Beauchamp). This means they are not able to make sound decisions, moreover they cannot think independently hence they should be treated less of human beings are they do not form part of the moral community hence they have no rights to be protected (Palmer).

Despite that, the theories do not encourage animals to be harmed as they possess a sense of sentiment thus their feelings should be respected. Direct theories are those that accord animals moral considerations but the moral status that is accorded to animals is limited in nature since animals are unable to recognize the rights of other agents and respect them thus they cannot be included in the moral community (Palmer). The theories argue that actions by human beings should not harm animals directly but whenever conflict of interest between animals and human beings sets in the interests of human beings always supersedes as human beings are always supreme over all other animals.

The moral equality theories, on the other hand, argue that animals and human beings ought to be treated equally. The theories ignore the special characteristics that are often associated with human