A utilitarian argument against animal exploitation

Abstract

Animal abolitionism calls for an end to the exploitation of nonhuman animals. When this is advocated within a rights-based framework a justification falls readily from Kantian-inspired injunctions against instrumentalisation. For utilitarianism, however, an in-principle argument against exploitation is more difficult to make. It is for this reason that prominent abolitionist Gary Francione has argued at length that utilitarianism is not up to the task of anything more than merely regulating animal exploitation (Francione & Garner 2010, 8–11; Francione 1996, 61). According to utilitarianism, it follows that where animal exploitation maximises utility it should be endorsed rather than rejected. The view