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A Summary of, "Speciesism and the Equality of Animals".

The article, “Speciesism and the Equality of Animals,” by Peter Singer argues that the exploitation of less intelligent species by humans is cruel and goes unnoticed.  (179)  The article explains that the animal’s capacity to suffers justifies that they’re interest should be considered.  The withholding of these rights can be similar to tyranny.  Further the arbitrary manner in which humans assume that animals do not possess intelligence, that humans rationalize murdering them solely for their interest violates the principles of equality, where the aforementioned is taken into account that both animals and humans are able to experience suffering and happiness, thus a line should be draw.  The article further questions the rationale as to why humans had chosen this characteristic to represent a specie’s interest. 

Most human beings submit quietly to the idea of the institutionalized cruelty to animals and are thus speciesists exploiting their own interest at the expense of the other species.  The eating of animals is one of the most common contacts with other species. (279)  Humans eat them to have a sustainable nutritious diet yet that same diet can be supplemented with meat alternatives thus it is not a viable argument according to the article, to continue to eat them.  Simply killing the animal is not the worst thing that is done to these animals but how they are treated prior to their evident demise.  Humans are cruel to these animals exploiting them for profits via an unjust capitalistic system.  These animals are placed into cramp, unsuitable conditions from birth.  Hens are caged in wires where they cannot move freely and thus end up pecking each other to death where prevention measures have been implemented to cut off the beaks of young hen.  This example of cruelty according to the article is institutionalized and the philosophy of profitable progress are enacted where these animals are killed and raised in the most efficient manner.  Only when profitability is hampered cruelty is then recognized. (179)  The method of production for the killing of these animals’ rewards innovation with profit.  The article continues onto the treatment of pigs and then veal.  The killing of these animals and the practices involving it represent the human speciesist belief that they must pleasure their palette and sacrifice the most important interest of other species which is life itself.  The article then verifies that it maybe not a simple task to stop supporting the meat industry but we all have a moral obligation to do so.  Not only are animals exploited by the meat industry but also other industries test human products on animals.  The article references the utilization of eye drops which are filled with the substance to be tested and are instilled in the eyes of rabbits.  Further other chemicals are used and animals are pumped with this substance until they become sick or die, as it was not enough to treat them like lab equipment but to knowingly cause their suffering, this is cruel.  The institutional speciesism of these cruel acts occur within universities of all places.  Singer argues that the results yielded from experiments such as the aforementioned are of little value but the damage done to those species is their livelihood.