Animal Quote by Francione, Gary L
““None of the writers suggest that rape may be morally permissible dependent on “contextual relations.” None of the writers suggest that the morality of human slavery is dependent on “contextual relations.” So, although these essays purport to reject the hierarchy of patriarchal ethics, and to offer the ethic of care as an alternative, the ethic of care is applied in significantly different ways depending on whether we are talking about humans or animals. When we apply the ethic of care to human beings, we assume from the outset that human beings have at least some interests that cannot be compromised irrespective of context. When we apply the ethic of care to animals, we assume that all animal interests can be violated if the “context” justifies it. The feminist ethic of care and animal welfare theory both accept the notion of animals as “things” and accept the legitimacy of the resulting hierarchy.””
About This Quote
Source Article: “The Ethics of Care and Animal Welfare” by Gary L. Francione, 2000
The author argues that the ethic of care is applied inconsistently, protecting human interests absolutely while allowing animal interests to be overridden by context, revealing a hierarchical bias.
In simple terms: Care is applied differently to humans and animals, showing bias.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and challenge inconsistent moral standards.
Themes
ethics
feminism
animal rights
hierarchy
moral inconsistency
Mood
critical
reflective
concerned
Type
philosophical
ethical
analytical
When to use this quote
- policy debates
- academic curricula
- activism
- legislative reform
Key Concepts
care ethics
feminist theory
animal welfare
moral relativism
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we create a consistent ethic that respects all sentient beings?
- What criteria should determine when context justifies overriding interests?
A Different Perspective
The argument may overlook cases where human interests also conflict with contextual factors.
![“I believe that the camera has aided animal welfare by giving a platform and a vision [for bringing] awareness to the most important animal-welfare issues worldwide.” quote by Katie Cleary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/473/katie-cleary-33985_animal_i-believe-that-the-camera-has-aided-anim_98202.jpg)
