I was talking to my girlfriend about animal testing, and she caught me on the one thing I know I'm inconsistent about, and the thing that is the hardest moral issue for me. I therefore need to get educated about it for the next time I talk to her about it.
To most people, these are three separate issues: abortion, animal rights, and the rights of the mentally retarded. For me, however, they all stem from the same thing.
I believe humans ought to have more rights than snails or mice. I believe it's wrong to eat octopus, monkey, or dog, because those are all intelligent creatures. I also am OK with early-term abortions because the fetus has no comprehension of life -- it's the moral equivalent of killing a cockroach, or a fish, etc..
But at the same time, nothing in the world makes me angrier than hearing about people abusing the mentally retarded. I don't think any person should have more rights than another based on intelligence. I don't see how I can simultaneously hold all of these views.
Can anyone help me out of this moral dilemma? I can find no way to be consistent in my beliefs and not feel compelled to claim something I feel immoral ("mentally retarded people should be second-class citizens") or silly ("eating beef is the moral equivalent of conspiracy to commit murder").
To most people, these are three separate issues: abortion, animal rights, and the rights of the mentally retarded. For me, however, they all stem from the same thing.
I believe humans ought to have more rights than snails or mice. I believe it's wrong to eat octopus, monkey, or dog, because those are all intelligent creatures. I also am OK with early-term abortions because the fetus has no comprehension of life -- it's the moral equivalent of killing a cockroach, or a fish, etc..
But at the same time, nothing in the world makes me angrier than hearing about people abusing the mentally retarded. I don't think any person should have more rights than another based on intelligence. I don't see how I can simultaneously hold all of these views.
Can anyone help me out of this moral dilemma? I can find no way to be consistent in my beliefs and not feel compelled to claim something I feel immoral ("mentally retarded people should be second-class citizens") or silly ("eating beef is the moral equivalent of conspiracy to commit murder").