DEUTSCHRudolf Winkelmayer
The case of hunting: For what purpose and in which way may humans use animals?
Hunting is inseparably tied to the history of humanity’s development, but today it has to be reconsidered fundamentally and should be unlinked from any productive aspect. Moreover, from an animal ethics point of view, any killing has to be refused unless it is carried out with a reasonable motive. According to the findings of ecology, of the biology of evolution, cognition and behaviour, as well of animal ethics, hunting could be described as a sustainable use of nature, while preventing the animals as far as ever possible from fear, pain and suffering. Hunting is to be limited to those wild species who need to be regulated in order to maintain biodiversity and to contribute to the balance of interests in the cultural landscape. In its strict interpretation, this kind of hunting can also be called ultima ratio hunting.
What about plants? Rights that we concede to animals are based on interests and these, in turn, on sentience. Hence rights can at present be granted to sentient beings only because sentience is linked to strong negative rights. Neither the mere speculation of sentience nor only partially satisfied criteria for sentience are sufficient. Simply none of the criteria that play a role in the attribution of pain sensation can be proven in plants. More…
