The weight of animal interests

Abstract

Sentient animals have an interest in having their well-being maximized and their suffering minimized. While many acknowledge the importance of caring for humans, the interests of nonhuman animals are often disregarded. However, arguments against speciesism demonstrate that human interests are not inherently more important. Two factors determine the weight of animal interests: their capacity for positive and negative experiences, and their actual situations. Evidence suggests that animals with centralized nervous systems are potentially sentient, and many exhibit clear indicators of suffering. Furthermore, the scale of suffering in nonhuman animals is vast, encompassing intense harms experienced by billions of animals exploited for food production, used in laboratories, and living in the wild. Therefore, refraining from causing harm and actively promoting the well-being of nonhuman animals is morally justified. – AI-generated abstract.