Animals have always – since their domestication – represented something useful (sometimes precious) for humans. Despite this there are objections that in the last centuries have become fierce and widespread, especially in the western world. Initially the reasons tended to be ethical-philosophical (prevent the animals from suffering and respect them as creatures); more recently animals have been accused of being pollution factors within the ecosystem and of being the cause of health risks for humans that feed on them. Without wanting to negate the vein of truth in these statements, this essay highlights both the moral obligation inherent to the exploitation of animals and the extent to which their exploitation is indispensable in many ways: food for human health, textile fibers, skins and hides, work force in agriculture, and a whole range of other specific roles, including as pets. Having taken all of this into consideration, and not being able to do without farmed animals, a series of additional considerations emerge regarding the need to lessen the possible negative effects related to animal farming (avoid excess use, improve the efficiency, reduce the impact on the ecosystem) and guarantee living conditions that are appropriate for the animals in question and the farmers as well.
Gli animali hanno da sempre – dopo la domesticazione – costituito un qualcosa di utile (talora prezioso) per l’uomo. Non sono peraltro mancate voci contrarie che negli ultimi secoli si sono fatte agguerrite e molto diffuse, specie nei Paesi occidentali. Inizialmente le ragioni erano di tipo prettamente etico-filosofico (evitare loro sofferenze e rispettarli in quanto creature); in seguito sono stati accusati di essere fattori di inquinamento per l’ecosistema, ma anche causa di rischi per la salute dell’uomo che se ne ciba. Senza voler negare una parte di verità in queste asserzioni, il presente contributo evidenzia la liceità morale di un loro corretto impiego e l’assoluta indispensabilità per molte finalità: cibo essenziale per la salute umana, fibre tessili, pellami, forza lavoro in agricoltura e non, funzioni particolari tra le più diverse, compresa l’affezione. Considerato tutto ciò, non potendo fare a meno degli animali allevati, emerge una serie di considerazioni riguardanti la necessità di attenuare i loro possibili effetti negativi (evitare eccessi d’impiego, migliorare l’efficienza, ridurre l’impatto sull’ecosistema) e garantirne condizioni di vita accettabili, utili per gli stessi animali, ma anche per gli allevatori.
Bertoni, G., Minardi, A., Agriculture and animals: different role and ethical consideration, in Bertoni, G. (ed.), World food production. Facing growing needs and limited resources, Vita & Pensiero, Milano 2015: 275- 303 [http://hdl.handle.net/10807/118846]
Agriculture and animals: different role and ethical consideration
Minardi, Andrea
2015
Abstract
Animals have always – since their domestication – represented something useful (sometimes precious) for humans. Despite this there are objections that in the last centuries have become fierce and widespread, especially in the western world. Initially the reasons tended to be ethical-philosophical (prevent the animals from suffering and respect them as creatures); more recently animals have been accused of being pollution factors within the ecosystem and of being the cause of health risks for humans that feed on them. Without wanting to negate the vein of truth in these statements, this essay highlights both the moral obligation inherent to the exploitation of animals and the extent to which their exploitation is indispensable in many ways: food for human health, textile fibers, skins and hides, work force in agriculture, and a whole range of other specific roles, including as pets. Having taken all of this into consideration, and not being able to do without farmed animals, a series of additional considerations emerge regarding the need to lessen the possible negative effects related to animal farming (avoid excess use, improve the efficiency, reduce the impact on the ecosystem) and guarantee living conditions that are appropriate for the animals in question and the farmers as well.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.