Henry S. Salt (1851-1939) on the Golden Rule

How, then, shall we sum up in a sentence the principle of our duties to the lower animals? I do not know that it can be better done than in the words of George Nicholson, one of those early pioneers to the influence of whose writings, though now almost forgotten, the cause of humaneness owes so much. "In our conduct to animals," he wrote, "one plain rule may determine what form it ought to take, and prove an effectual guard against an improper treatment of them—a rule universally admitted as a foundation of moral rectitude: Treat the animal in such a manner as you would willingly be treated, were you such an animal." In our dealings with the non-human as with the human race, it is not "charity," or "self-sacrifice," or "mercy" that is required, but simple justice—an insistence on our own duties as on those of our neighbors, a recognition of our neighbors' rights as of our own.

(Henry S. Salt, "The Rights of Animals," International Journal of Ethics 10 [January 1900]: 206-22, at 222 [italics in original; footnote omitted])

Ten Years Gone

Here are the posts from December 2003.

Statistics

This blog had 2,210 visits during November, which is an average of 73.6 visits per day. A year ago, the average was 93.2.

Ten Years Gone

I began this blog 10 years ago today. The time has gone fast. Although I rarely post anything substantive, I did so for many years, so the blog still serves a useful purpose. Here are the posts from November 2003. On the first day of each month, from now on, I will link to the posts for that month 10 years earlier. I hope you enjoy the flashback.

Henry S. Salt (1851-1939) on Animal Rights

Nor is it true that the worth of an animal's life, any more than of a man's, can be measured simply by the amount of "agreeable sensation," a fallacy often put forward by those who cage animals in menageries, on the plea that they are there well tended and saved from the struggle for existence. To live one's own natural life, to realize one's self, is the true moral purpose of man and animal equally, and the wrong done by the unnecessary cramping and thwarting of animal individuality, as in the turning of an active intelligent being into a prisoner or pet, cannot really be compensated by the gift of any material "comforts." Compare the life of the wild bison with that of the stall-fed ox, or that of the sheepdog with the pampered pug, and the moral can hardly be overlooked. An animal has his proper work to do in the world, his own life to live, as surely as a man; and those who scoff at this idea, and deny individuality to animals, should remember that there was a time, under the Greek and Roman civilization, when it was held to be doubtful whether a slave, in like manner, had any claim to be regarded as a person.

(Henry S. Salt, "The Rights of Animals," International Journal of Ethics 10 [January 1900]: 206-22, at 209 [italics in original])

Statistics

This blog had 1,785 visits during October, which is an average of 57.5 visits per day. A year ago, the average was 89.8.

Statistics

This blog had 1,349 visits during September, which is an average of 44.9 visits per day. A year ago, the average was 79.2.

Kristof

My friend Mylan linked to an op-ed column by Nicholas D. Kristof of the New York Times. Let me make a few comments.

1. Kristof says that "SeaWorld [marine park] denies the claims [of mistreatment], which isn't surprising since it earns millions [of dollars] from orcas." This is cynicism. Kristof should address SeaWorld's argument, not question its motives. How would he like it if his readers questioned (or speculated about) his motives? (For example: Does Kristof own stock in a rival company?) Charity requires that good (or at least benign) motives be imputed to arguers. Cynicism is the imputation of bad motives. Cynicism is not argumentation; it is the evasion of argumentation.
2. Kristof writes: "The juxtaposition of the two reviews made me wonder: Some day, will our descendants be mystified by how good and decent people in the early 21st century—that's us—could have been so oblivious to the unethical treatment of animals?" Good question! I would replace "animals" with "fetuses."
3. Kristof writes, by way of apology for his "hypocrisy," that he eats meat ("albeit with misgivings") and has "no compunctions about using mousetraps." Eating meat and using mousetraps are as different (morally speaking) as night and day. Using a mousetrap can be justified by defense of self or property (though there are more humane ways of getting rid of pests). Eating meat cannot be so justified. Nobody needs to eat meat in order to survive or flourish. This shows that Kristof has not given much serious thought to the topic of the moral status of animals. He knows just enough about the topic to be dangerous (since he has a large audience).

Now you see why I don't read Kristof. Had Mylan not linked to his column, I would not have read it.

Statistics

This blog had 866 visits during August, which is an average of 27.9 visits per day. A year ago, the average was 58.1

From The New York Times

In Response to Nicholas D. Kristof's column "Can We See Our Hypocrisy to Animals?"NYTimes readers urge consistency in our treatment of and concern for animals here.

From Sunday's New York Times

Can We See Our Hypocrisy to Animals? by Nicholas D. Kristof

Statistics

This blog had 1,070 visits during July, which is an average of 34.5 visits per day. A year ago, the average was 55.5.

Veganism

Want to kill your cat? Feed him or her a vegan diet.

Statistics

This blog had 1,406 visits during June, which is an average of 46.8 visits per day. A year ago, the average was 62.6.

Vegetarianism

According to the Wall Street Journal, vegetarians live longer than meat-eaters.

Statistics

This blog had 2,060 visits during May, which is an average of 66.4 visits per day. A year ago, the average was 89.2.

Green Energy Kills

Cockroaches

Idiocy never sleeps.

Vegan Food Groups

Roscoe and Surya

Statistics

This blog had 2,364 visits during April, which is an average of 78.8 visits per day. A year ago, the average was 111.3.

Humor

Statistics

This blog had 2,049 visits during March, which is an average of 66.0 visits per day. A year ago, the average was 102.4.

Animals

According to the Guardian, the new pope (Jorge Mario Bergoglio) took his name from Saint Francis of Assisi (depicted above), who is the patron saint of animals. This would be a wonderful opportunity for the Roman Catholic Church, which has 1.2 billion adherents, to drive home the point that animals are not resources for human use but fellow denizens of the planet, with lives, a good, and a dignity of their own.

Statistics

This blog had 2,196 visits during February, which is an average of 78.4 visits per day. A year ago, the average was 104.3.

Farmers

Many viewers were moved by Dodge's Super Bowl commercial "So God Made a Farmer." This rich parody, God Made a Factory Farmer, dispels the myth of the family farm in a humorous, but accurate way. Very funny and so true!

Statistics

This blog had 2,552 visits during January, which is an average of 82.3 visits per day. A year ago, the average was 85.2.

Killing Animals

Here is an essay by law professor Gary Francione.

How to Go Vegan

Here.

The Philosophy of Animal Rights

Mylan Engel Jr and Kathie Jenni are the authors of this book. Mylan is a longtime contributor to this blog. We met in graduate school at the University of Arizona in 1983.

Statistics

This blog had 2,533 visits during December, which is an average of 81.7 visits per day. A year ago, the average was 87.5.