Essay Peter Singer Arguement That We are Speciesist

Speciesism, as defined by Peter Singer, â€Å"is a prejudice or attitude of bias in favor of the interests of members of one’s own species and against those of members of other species† (Singer, Animal Liberation, p. 6). The rationale for the preferential treatment encapsulated in this definition is simply the fact that those receiving the preferred treatment belong to the same species, and not on the basis of any grounds of higher intelligence or other attributes. Singer ensures that the reader can easily relate to this concept by drawing parallels between it, racism and sexism. Drawing this parallel also automatically associates speciesism with a negative emotion in the mind of the reader, since the concepts of racism and sexism generally†¦show more content†¦47). The supposedly medical nature of these studies, with the corresponding chance for advancing the health of the human species, is overcome by the fact that â€Å"animal models have questionable accuracy† (Singer, Animal Liberation, p. 58). A particularly chilling take-away from the studies Singer lists is that most of them end with a note along the lines of ‘further experimentation necessary’, implying that the researchers are involved in a self-fulfilling negative cycle where their personal pursuit for grant money, publication in peer reviewed journals, and the elusive accolades of their colleagues far overshadows the immense amount of suffering their stu dies are causing. Indeed, Singer presents his argument in a convincing format, with one account surpassing the next in its sheer lack of consideration for animals as living creatures. This reinforces his argument that humans are speciesists, prone to causing harm to non-humans without a thought if it means a slight (perceived) enhancement in their own state. The other half of Singer’s notion that our society is speciesist rests on how humans treat animals to produce food. â€Å"Factory farming† techniques cause â€Å"animals [to] lead miserable lives from birth to slaughter† (Singer, Animal Liberation, p.