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When Is Killing OK? - Sat. 4:30pm
Attacking animals? unwanted dogs & cats? unwanted human fetuses?

Presenters: Matejka

George Matejka, Ph.D.   
Associate Professor of Philosophy, Ursuline College

When Is Killing OK?

• Can the principle of self-defense be employed to justify killing an animal who attacks and threatens the life or well-being of oneself or others (e.g., one’s children)? Are there any limitations on the application of this principle? For example, does a skunk’s spray threaten enough to justify killing it?
• Can the utility principle (seeking to maximize pleasure over pain on the individual level, or seeking the greatest good for the greatest number on the social level) be used to justify killing dogs and cats that cannot be placed in adoptive homes? Can death be a greater good for the dog/cat than a miserable life with little or no quality (e.g., caged in a shelter)? What happens when shelters run out of room?
• Can the killing (culling) of wild animals (deer, turkeys) be justified? Some argue that excessive numbers of deer harm the environment. Others argue that too many deer raise the chances of deer-vehicle crashes with the resultant harm to human life and property. Should deer be killed to reduce these harms?
• Our society permits the killing of unwanted human fetuses through abortion legislation. Is this form of killing ok ethically? Notice the disparity between the laws which permit abortions and other laws which call a fetus in its third trimester a viable fetus with rights (see the Scott Peterson trial where he was convicted of a double murder).
• How do you see the connection between respect for human life and respect for animal life? Some see the two as closely connected ideas. However, many in our society live a major disconnect between the two. That is, many have a strong respect for human life, but little or no respect for animal life (e.g., factory farming providing meat). Is this speciesism once again? Any ideas about how to overcome this disconnect?