The blind hens’ challenge: does it undermine the view that only welfare matters in our dealings with animals?
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The blind hens’ challenge : does it undermine the view that only welfare matters in our dealings with animals? / Sandøe, Peter; Hocking, Paul M.; Forkman, Björn; Haldane, Kirsty; Kristensen, Helle Halkjær; Palmer, Clare.
In: Environmental Values, Vol. 23, No. 6, 2014, p. 727-742.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - The blind hens’ challenge
T2 - does it undermine the view that only welfare matters in our dealings with animals?
AU - Sandøe, Peter
AU - Hocking, Paul M.
AU - Forkman, Björn
AU - Haldane, Kirsty
AU - Kristensen, Helle Halkjær
AU - Palmer, Clare
PY - 2014
Y1 - 2014
N2 - Animal ethicists have recently debated the ethical questions raised by disenhancing animals to improve their welfare. Here, we focus on the particular case of breeding blind hens for commercial egg-laying systems, in order to benefit their welfare. Many people find breeding blind hens intuitively repellent, yet 'welfare-only' positions appear to be committed to endorsing this possibility if it produces welfare gains. We call this the 'Blind Hens' Challenge'. In this paper, we argue that there are both empirical and theoretical reasons why even those adopting 'welfare-only' views should be concerned about breeding blind hens. But we also argue that alternative views, which (for example) claim that it is important to respect the telos or rights of an animal, do not offer a more convincing solution to questions raised by the possibility of disenhancing animals for their own benefit.
AB - Animal ethicists have recently debated the ethical questions raised by disenhancing animals to improve their welfare. Here, we focus on the particular case of breeding blind hens for commercial egg-laying systems, in order to benefit their welfare. Many people find breeding blind hens intuitively repellent, yet 'welfare-only' positions appear to be committed to endorsing this possibility if it produces welfare gains. We call this the 'Blind Hens' Challenge'. In this paper, we argue that there are both empirical and theoretical reasons why even those adopting 'welfare-only' views should be concerned about breeding blind hens. But we also argue that alternative views, which (for example) claim that it is important to respect the telos or rights of an animal, do not offer a more convincing solution to questions raised by the possibility of disenhancing animals for their own benefit.
U2 - 10.3197/096327114X13947900181950
DO - 10.3197/096327114X13947900181950
M3 - Journal article
VL - 23
SP - 727
EP - 742
JO - Environmental Values
JF - Environmental Values
SN - 0963-2719
IS - 6
ER -
ID: 101706091