Student ID: 0258094
In this squib I will criticize Norcross’ response to objection 1 to Norcross’ main argument from the essay “Puppies, Pigs, and People: Eating Meat and Marginal Cases” by Alastair Norcross. In objection 1 to Norcross’s main argument it is argued that Fred tortures the puppies himself, but meat eaters do not torture the farm animals. Norcross’ response is that, Fred’s hiring someone else to torture the puppies for him would be just as wrong. Norcross believes there is not a separation between one who tortures the animals themselves to obtain meat or in this case the fictional chemical “cocoamone” (Norcross, pg. 230). Or one who pays another to do the torturing for them. Norcross’ Argument …show more content…
Maximizing happiness is not morally wrong.
4. Therefore, purchasing meat from the supermarket and by proxy paying for the torture of farm raised animals is not wrong.
My argument is in the form of Modus Tollens and is thus a valid argument. Meaning that it’s logically impossible for the premises to be true and the conclusion false. The support for my argument is as follows:
Premise 1: This is true because the act of providing for your family involves the purchase of foods from various sources.
Premise 2: Providing for your family is an act of maximizing happiness and is therefore supported by Act-Utilitarianism which states one can maximize happiness while taking into consideration of those involved.
Premise 3: According to Act-Utilitarianism maximizing happiness is not morally wrong.
Premise 4: If it is part of maximizing happiness for one to purchase food from the supermarket and avoiding the torturous practices of farm or factory raised meats as opposed to doing the torturing oneself then it is not morally wrong.
The ethical theory of Act-Utilitarianism says that what makes an action right is that it maximizes happiness, those involved considered. This ethical theory supports my argument because the process of purchasing food, in this case farm raised meat, is a way of maximizing happiness for oneself and for those involved including family