Animal Consciousness Question Set #5

Questions For Michael Pollan's "An Animal's Place"

1. What "constitutional right" did Germany grant animals and how did the Swiss amend their laws to change the status of animals?

2. What was the finding of a recent Zogby poll concerning the status of animals?

3. What traditional paradox does Pollan say has broken down in contemporary modern life?

4. According to Pollan, how does Singer extend his notion of "equality" to animals?

5. What interests do 18th-century philosopher Jeremy Bentham say humans share with animals?

6. What does Pollan say that Singer's retort would be to someone who posits that the difference between whites and blacks is trivial compared to that between humans and animals?

7. What is the argument from marginal cases (A.M. C.) and how does one run into it when one raises the objection-one should reserve moral consideration for those who can reciprocate it?

8. What does Pollan say one is forced to do if one neither can look away from animal pain and suffering nor stop eating animals?

9. What evidence does Pollan cite to illustrate that the quality of animal pain is the same as human pain?

10. What does Pollan say is the difference between pain and suffering?

11. What evidence does Pollan provide to suggest that pigs suffer? In your opinion, is this evidence sufficient?

12. According to Pollan, what does Dennett say we can assume if we see no signs of suffering in a subject?

13. According to Matthew Scully, author of "Dominion, why should a Christian be concerned about the manner in which animals are treated?

14. Why does Pollan say that capitalism is at odds with religious imperatives?

15. Why does Pollan believe that the symbiotic farm of Joel Salatin allows for a greater degree of animal happiness for all the animals?

16. Why is Pollan troubled by animal rightists (and others) who feel that predation is an "intrinsic evil"?

17. Why does Singer concur with To Regan who says that because ''species are not individuals . . . the rights view does not recognize the moral rights of species to anything, including survival.''

18. Why does Pollan state that human morality based on individual rights is a poor fit with the natural world?

19. Why does Pollan suggest that eating animals may be the most ethical thing one can do?

20. how does Pollan point out that the taking of an animal's life in ancient and historical times is different than today?