Many of our arguments we have read about pet ownership have been concerned primarily with the effects ownership has on pets. Is harm done, in benefit done, to what degree do we owe an obligation of assistance to pets? In all this I think we may have passed over a more important question. What are the ethical implications of owning another sentient animal? In other words, is it morally acceptable to own an animal?
Is it fair to characterize it thus? Is it ownership, or is it a partnership, and are there moral differences there. We often invoke the verb 'own' to describe our relationship with pets; is this acceptable? Do we own another being or are we partners of proximity? All utilitarian consequences aside, there is something morally unsettling about the ownership of another sentient being.
Question: Is it morally acceptable to own another being?
Gary Francione has two books dedicated to this topic that you might find useful and challenging: “Animals as persons”, and “Animals, Property, and the Law”. Both books discuss the “ownership” of other sentient beings. This is something we discussed in “Owning and Belonging” with Silliman, and Shelby wrote a great paper, “Animals as Property”, that addresses these concerns. I lifted the following passage (slightly modified) from comments I left on Shelby’s Owning and Belonging blog.
ReplyDeleteThe ownership of animals does not imply, entail, or legally bind, an owner to recognize an animal’s inherent dignitary interests, whereas the principle of legal guardianship means precisely all those things. For instance, we do not own children; we provide for their well-being. Genuine nurturance acknowledges the interests of other humans and animals as intrinsically valuable. (See also, Silliman’s comments that suggest we might, in a (Lockian?) sense, own other sentient beings.
I appreciate greatly this notion of legal guardianship as opposed to legal ownership. I think this is a good way to think about it. I'll look into those books, and perhaps Shelby can send me her paper. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI responded to this. Helpfully, I hope. Or something.
ReplyDelete