Singer extends that if a being is in pain there is no moral justification to not help that being. Singer is saying that if a being has the capacity for suffering it must also have the capacity for happiness. Singer goes on to argue that when white racists nullify their recognition of pain from blacks its comparable to the way humans reject the pain from animals. Singer says, “I would call ‘speciesists’ give greater weight to the interests of members of their own species when there is a clash between their interests and the interests of those of other species. Human speciesists do not accept that pain is as bad when it is felt by pigs or mice as when it is felt by humans.” We reject their pain/happiness because we view them as less intelligent.
Singer says, “If a being suffers, there can be no moral justification for refusing to take that suffering into consideration. No matter what the nature of the being, the principle of equality requires that its suffering be counted equally with the like suffering – in so far as rough comparisons can be made – of any other being.”
I think this quote is important considering the quality of life we place on specific animals such as dogs and cats. Those animals are given large outcries if videos or articles surface of mistreatment or murder. Since I believe we are conditioned to pay specific respect to one animal and not the others; (ex: cows, fish, lamb, chickens) society makes no outcry.
I believe it is a good argument, its rational, however he does not mention anything about the systematic lowering of animal based product prices. I believe that animal based products have become engrained into many societies. Even in American culture the ideal breakfast looks like: eggs, bacon, milk, and possibly other animal based foods. e.g. buttermilk pancakes, biscuits made with milk and eggs, or sausage links. For some of my friends even the very thought of eating plant based foods or non animal based is sacrilege. It has also been very hard for plant based foods to get even the slightest food hold in grocery stores. Animal based product prices are so low that it makes it fiscally irrational for lower class and possibly middle class to buy plant based products over the ethics of animal cruelty. Beyond meat is a newer plant based burger patty alternative to beef patties that is taking grocery stores by storm. However, as of right now you can only buy them in packs of 2 for around 6-7 dollars and 10 beef patties for 10 dollars. Recently Beyond meats demand has gone up and they are finally getting enough investors to help lower the prices and hopefully reach more stores.
Jared's Ethics 