Discussion questions

Peter Singer on Ethics. From Examined Life.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVViICWs4dM

BBC Report: What would happen if everyone stopped eating meat?

http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20160926-what-would-happen-if-the-world-suddenly-went-vegetarian

Required Text

(SEE ATTACHED FILE CHAPTER 6 FOR THE TEXT)

· Mosser, K. (2013). Understanding philosophy [Electronic version]. Retrieved from https://content.ashford.edu/

· Chapter 6: Traditional Theories of Ethics

· Utilitarianism

· Problems with Utilitarianism

· Great Ideas: The Trolley Problem

· Tyranny of the Majority

· Mill’s Response

· Vegetarianism

· Animal Rights

Articles

· Mill, J. S. (2008). Utilitarianism, In J. Bennett (Ed. & Rev.) Early Modern Philosophy. Retrieved from http://www.earlymoderntexts.com/pdfs/mill1863.pdf

· Please read the sections from Chapter 2 marked in red in the document available in the online classroom. This text is one of the most straightforward and historically significant explanations of the theory of utilitarianism. ( SEE ATTACHED FILE)

· Regan, T. (1985). The case for animal rights. In P. Singer (Ed.), In defense of animals (pp. 13-26). New York, NY: Basil Blackwell. Retrieved from http://www.animal-rights-library.com/texts-m/regan03.htm

· In this article, Tom Regan argues against moral theories that exclude animals from moral consideration. Then he attacks the utilitarian approach to animal ethics, advocating instead for an approach that grants equal rights to all conscious beings.

· Singer, P. (1989). All animals are equal. In T. Regan & P. Singer (Eds.), Animal rights and human obligations (pp. 148-162). New Jersey: Prentice Hall. Retrieved from http://spot.colorado.edu/~heathwoo/phil1200,Spr07/singer.pdf

· This article can also be found in the Chapter 6 Readings section in the Appendix of your primary text. In this article, Peter Singer critiques arguments that animals do not deserve equal moral consideration. He then makes a reasoned case for a new approach to how we should treat animals based upon a principle of non-discrimination.

Multimedia

· Alfie A. (2010, November 22).  Meet your meat  [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/32IDVdgmzKA

· This is a brief exposé about how farm animals raised for food are treated on today’s factory farms. It is a bit difficult to watch, yet important to get a glimpse of the realities behind much of what we find in restaurants and the supermarket. Transcript Accessibility Statement Privacy Policy

· Garcia, P. (Director). (2004). Ethics: What is right? [Series episode]. In C. Scherer (Executive producer), Great ideas of philosophy I. Retrieved from https://secure.films.com/OnDemandEmbed.aspx?Token=32706&aid=18596&Plt=FOD&loid=0&w=640&h=480&ref=

· Watch this video between the 25-minute and 31-minute marks. This segment of the video discusses the history, development, and core principles of the ethical theory of utilitarianism. Accessibility Statement Privacy Policy