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Equality and Animals


            
             Are all people created equal? One might answer, yes, we are. Are we really? Does everyone have brown eyes? Does everyone enjoy eating the same foods? The fact is, as Peter Singer puts it, it is simply not true that all humans are equal (Singer 17). In Singer's book, Practical Ethics, he sets forth a view he calls the Principle of Equal Consideration of Interests. This principle declares that everyone's interests should be considered equally, no matter whose interest it is. Special consideration is not given to any race or any sex. Singer then points out that special consideration should not be given to any species; the principle should not be limited to humans. This suggestion by Singer has sparked some debates and certainly has a number of objections to it. Some might then ask, if animals eat each other, why can't we eat them? Another objection is that here are differences between humans and animals. Yet another objection is the ethics and reciprocity view. Also, whether or not we know that animals can feel pain is another objection. Are humans different than animals? I would have to say that yes, we are. Are we morally different? This is a very difficult question to answer. .
             If there were some action that were going to be taken upon two people, and this action affected on person in a very negative way, but barely affected the other person, it would make sense not to perform the action. Under the principle of equal consideration, this is how interests are weighed. Equal weight is given in our moral deliberations to the like interests of all those affected by our actions (Singer 21). In other words, all interests are considered but the greater weight or higher priority is given to the being who is most affected. When being weighed, the interests have no names next to them or anything else to differentiate them from the others. An example put forth by Singer explains how the Nazis were wrong in their racism.


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