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Journal article
Ethical arguments that support intentional animal killing
Frontiers in ecology and evolution, Vol.13, 1684894
2025
Abstract
Killing animals is a ubiquitous human activity consistent with our predatory and competitive ecological roles within the global food web. However, this reality does not automatically justify the moral permissibility of the various ways and reasons why humans kill animals – additional ethical arguments are required. Multiple ethical theories or frameworks provide guidance on this subject, and here we explore the permissibility of intentional animal killing within (1) consequentialism, (2) natural law or deontology, (3) religious ethics or divine command theory, (4) virtue ethics, (5) care ethics, (6) contractarianism or social contract theory, (7) ethical particularism, and (8) environmental ethics. These frameworks are most often used to argue that intentional animal killing is morally impermissible, bad, incorrect, or wrong, yet here we show that these same ethical frameworks can be used to argue that many forms of intentional animal killing are morally permissible, good, correct, or right. Each of these ethical frameworks support constrained positions where intentional animal killing is morally permissible in a variety of common contexts, and we further address and dispel typical ethical objections to this view. Given the demonstrably widespread and consistent ways that intentional animal killing can be ethically supported across multiple frameworks, we show that it is incorrect to label such killing as categorically unethical. We encourage deeper consideration of the many ethical arguments that support intentional animal killing and the contexts in which they apply.
Details
- Title
- Ethical arguments that support intentional animal killing
- Authors/Creators
- Benjamin L. Allen - Nelson Mandela UniversityBenjamin L. Allen - Nelson Mandela UniversityAndrew J. Abraham - Aarhus UniversityRobert Arlinghaus - Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland FisheriesRobert Arlinghaus - Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland FisheriesJerrold L. Belant - Michigan State UniversityDaniel T. Blumstein - University of California, Los AngelesChristopher Bobier - Central Michigan UniversityMichael J. Bodenchuk - Independent Researcher, Hondo, TX, United StatesMarcus Clauss - University of ZurichStuart J. Dawson - Murdoch UniversityStuart J. Dawson - Murdoch UniversityStuart W. G. Derbyshire - 3Department of Psychology, National University of Singapore, Singapore, SingaporeSam M. Ferreira - North-West UniversitySam M. Ferreira - North-West UniversityPeter J. S. Fleming - University of New EnglandPeter J. S. Fleming - University of New EnglandTim Forssman - University of MpumalangaVanessa Gorecki - University of Southern QueenslandChristian Gortázar - Instituto de Investigación en Recursos CinegéticosAndrea S. Griffin - University of Newcastle AustraliaJordan O. Hampton - Murdoch UniversityJordan O. Hampton - Murdoch UniversityPeter M. Haswell - Bangor UniversityGraham I. H. Kerley - Nelson Mandela UniversityChristopher H. Lean - ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic BiologyChristopher H. Lean - ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic BiologyFrédéric Leroy - Vrije Universiteit BrusselJohn D. C. Linnell - University of Inland NorwayJohn D. C. Linnell - University of Inland NorwayKate Lynch - The University of SydneyKate Lynch - The University of SydneyCelesté Maré - Aarhus UniversityHaemish Melville - University of South AfricaLiaan Minnie - University of MpumalangaLiaan Minnie - University of MpumalangaYoshan Moodley - University of VendaDanial Nayeri - Texas A&M UniversityM. Justin O’Riain - University of Cape TownDan Parker - University of MpumalangaStéphanie Périquet-Pearce - 7Ongava Research Centre, Windhoek, NamibiaGilbert Proulx - 8Alpha Wildlife Research & Management, Sherwood Park, AB, CanadaFrans G. T. Radloff - Cape Peninsula University of TechnologyAlexander Schwab - 0Independent Researcher, Nelson, New ZealandSarah-Anne Jeanetta Selier - 5Faculty of Law, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South AfricaSarah-Anne Jeanetta Selier - National Biodiversity InstituteSamuel Shephard - Ave Maria UniversityMichael J. Somers - University of PretoriaT. Adam Van Wart - Ave Maria UniversityKurt C. Vercauteren - Life Services (United States)Erica von Essen - University of Inland NorwayErica von Essen - University of Inland Norway
- Publication Details
- Frontiers in ecology and evolution, Vol.13, 1684894
- Publisher
- Frontiers Media S.A
- Identifiers
- 991005821143807891
- Copyright
- © 2025 Allen et al.
- Murdoch Affiliation
- Centre for Terrestrial Ecosystem Science and Sustainability; School of Veterinary Medicine
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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