The Rights of the Non-human Animals - Essay Example

It will be unsocial and unethical if human beings treat non-human animals as the “ends in themselves”. Non-human animals have the fundamental right to live like human beings. All non-human animals have effective value, contribution, and responsibility in ecology (Regan 13).

It is necessary to have all kinds of animals in society as it helps to maintain the ecological balance. Human beings achieve huge benefits and advantages from these non-human animals. Non-human animals have an important contribution to the agricultural and industrial sectors. Therefore, animals have the right to die or get injured if they harm human beings. Similarly, it is the right of innocent non-human animals to live without fear in society. Human beings should not hurt or kill non-human animals considering the law of humanity.

This law of humanity does not allow human beings to torture or kill nonhuman animals. Human beings are mentally strong than these non-human animals. Human beings are known as social animals. They are more intelligent than nonhuman animals. Indeed, the non-human animals cannot think like human beings, but they can feel and similarly respond to external factors. Therefore, it can be stated that human beings should not treat nonhuman animals as ends in themselves as it will violate the law of nature.

Cows, dogs, cats, and birds are domestic animals. They give unconditional love to human beings. Similarly, it is the responsibility of human beings to take care of their lives and needs. They cannot communicate with human beings through their voice. But they can indeed similarly feel things. These non-human animals are called obedient animals. They are loyal to the owners. Therefore, the attitude of human beings towards these nonhuman animals should be changed. In terms of the fundamental rights of non-human animals and moral ethics, it can be stated that the killing or torturing of animals should be stopped as it can hamper the ecological balance.

Question 3 According to Kant’s argument, non-human animals have souls as they can move. It is an ontological distinction between non-human animals and matters. Non-human animals are not just matters or mere machines. The animals do have souls as everything in nature is either animate or inanimate. Moreover, the non-human animal can feel the inner aspects, such as pain, joy, and sorrow. Therefore, it can be stated that non-human animals have animated matter that lacks the inner spontaneity principle.

According to the ethical view of Kant, human beings have the ethical right to injure or kill nonhuman animals. Moreover, he argued that nonhuman animals should be killed without pain and quickly. This action should not be for the sake of entertainment and sport.