Introduction - Killing Happy Animals: Explorations in Utilitarian Ethics - page 10

3 Why utilitarianism?
At first glance, utilitarianism seems to be a promising candidate moral
theory for supporting the ideal of animal-friendly animal husbandry.
After all, utilitarianism holds that welfare is the only value that is ulti-
mately relevant for ethical evaluation. Utilitarianism claims that moral
agents should promote overall welfare. Therefore, what matters is how
an action affects the welfare of others, including animals. Every affected
being counts equally. For instance, it does not matter whether the affected
being is male or female, human or non-human. So, as the maximization
of welfare is central to utilitarianism, this theory naturally includes all
sentient beings, including animals, as moral objects. This is expressed
in two famous dictums of Bentham (1748-1832), one of the founding
fathers of this moral theory: 'The question is not, Can they reason ? nor
Can they talk ? but, Can they suffer ?' And: 'Each to count for one and
none for more than one.' 23 If we are to reduce suffering and promote
welfare, there seems to be much to win in the field of animal husbandry.
This holds all the more true if animal suffering counts equally to human
suffering. So, utilitarianism justifies putting animal welfare high on the
agenda.
Utilitarianism does not categorically rule out killing. According to
utilitarianism, the consequences of every action, and the consequences
alone, determine whether it is right or wrong. There are no categories
of actions that are obligatory or forbidden as such and under all circum-
stances. Everything depends on how overall welfare is affected by a
particular action. Therefore, killing can be justified if it is compatible
with the maximization of overall welfare. Its positive effects can in prin-
ciple compensate its negative effects. Considering all this, utilitarianism
seems to be a promising candidate for supporting the ideal of animal-
friendly animal husbandry.
One might wonder whether there are other plausible candidates.
Support for the assumption must come from a moral theory that
considers animal welfare a proper issue of moral concern and that does
not rule out the killing of animals. Animal-rights theories are the most
prominent alternative to utilitarian theories when it comes to accepting
animals as moral objects. However, animal-rights theories do usually
accept the right to life as a very basic moral right. 24 Therefore, animal-
rights theories are unlikely to support animal husbandry. 25 There might
be other theories, except utilitarianism, which show concern for animal
welfare, and allow the killing of animals.
Some have supported the goal of animal-friendly animal husbandry
without accepting that we have any moral duties towards animals.