Animal disenhancement (or diminishment)[1] is the practice of selectively breeding or genetically engineering animals to reduce their capacities.[2] It is also to fit in their environment better or to reduce animals’ natural capabilities. This term was coined and popularized by Paul B. Thompson. A prominent example is breeding genetically blind chickens,[1][2][3][4] which tend to peck their peers less than sighted chickens.[5] A strain of chickens without eyesight were accidentally bred and they were not as stressed in large groups as those with eyesight.[2] Normal chickens were aggressive and pecked their peers but these blind chickens were less aggressive and did not harm each other as much. Animal ethicists have argued that farming diminished animals is morally preferable to farming present-day breeds if their lives contain less suffering. However, they have disagreed as to whether diminished animals' lives do contain less suffering.[1][2] Animal disenhancement can be seen as a spectrum, at the end of which lie animal microencephalic lumps (also microcephalic,[6] AMLs).[1] AMLs are hypothetical non-sentient animals that humans might some day create. AMLs would have such small brains that they would lack the cognitive capacity to feel pain or have interests.[7]
There is also a term called human enhancement in which nanotechnologies are used to improve a human’s cognitive abilities but it could also be reversed and used to reduce animals’ cognitive abilities.[2] This possible solution is called “dumb down.” Dumb down was a concept that was imagined 20 years ago by Bernard Rollin.[2] Rollin wanted to test painful diseases on animals and he wanted the animals to exhibit the diseases for research on biomedicine. Although it was only a concept, he imagined the possibility of genetically modifying the pain receptors of animals so that they would not show pain. However, with this idea, many criticized the moral ethics of it. One of the groups Rollin faced stated that this could hurt the "dignity" of the organisms. Another scientist named Adam Shriver has expressed that we should replace farm animals with ones that have been genetically modified or engineered to not have brain enzymes that trigger pain.[8] Animals would have a different feeling and reaction but not in a way that is thought of as painful and is associated with suffering.
Why Animal Disenhancement Might Be Necessaryedit
Peter Singer wrote “Animal Liberation” as a way to spread the animal liberation movement. He argues that people should become vegetarians because of the immense suffering that millions of animals must endure on farms.[8] This book was written in 1975 and has convinced millions to become vegetarian. Unfortunately, the consumption of meat has gone up by over 30 pounds per person by 2007 in the United States. With the population also rising, the efforts of animal rights activists have not been enough. This is why Adam Shriver proposes the idea of reducing suffering by eliminating animals’ brain functions so they cannot suffer from pain.[8]
The 3Rsedit
The 3Rs were developed by two men named Russell and Burch to regulate more humane animal research. The 3Rs stand for replacement, reduction, and refinement. Full replacement aims to substitute the use of animals that are exploited for research. There is also partial replacement which can include animals in operations where they do not suffer much. Reduction means limiting the number of animals used and refinement means limiting the suffering that animals must endure. This is relevant because it is well known that animal research causes lots of pain and it has grown to millions every year. The general consensus is that this is morally wrong. The reason that it is hard to reduce this suffering and to carry out stricter policies is that it can be expensive. As well as being expensive, it must be able to be applied to large amounts of animals. To enhance animal welfare and to reduce this suffering, a possible solution is genetic disenhancement.[9]
See alsoedit
Cellular agriculture, the production of animal tissue from cells rather than living animals.
^ abcdSchultz-Bergin, Marcus (2017). "The Dignity of Diminished Animals: Species Norms and Engineering to Improve Welfare". Ethical Theory and Moral Practice. 20 (4): 843–856. doi:10.1007/s10677-017-9828-8. ISSN 1386-2820. S2CID 149433458.
^ abcdefThompson, Paul B. (2008-12-01). "The Opposite of Human Enhancement: Nanotechnology and the Blind Chicken Problem". NanoEthics. 2 (3): 305–316. doi:10.1007/s11569-008-0052-9. ISSN 1871-4765. S2CID 143982071.
^Ali, AHMED; Cheng, KIMBERLY M. (1985-05-01). "Early Egg Production in Genetically Blind (rc/rc) Chickens in Comparison with Sighted (Rc+/rc) Controls". Poultry Science. 64 (5): 789–794. doi:10.3382/ps.0640789. ISSN 0032-5791. PMID 4001066.
^Collins, Sophie; Forkman, Björn; Kristensen, Helle H.; Sandøe, Peter; Hocking, Paul M. (2011-08-01). "Investigating the importance of vision in poultry: Comparing the behaviour of blind and sighted chickens". Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 133 (1): 60–69. doi:10.1016/j.applanim.2011.04.013. ISSN 0168-1591.
^SANDØE, PETER; HOCKING, PAUL M.; FÖRKMAN, BJORN; HALDANE, KIRSTY; KRISTENSEN, HELLE H.; PALMER, CLARE (2014). "The Blind Hens' Challenge: Does It Undermine the View That Only Welfare Matters in Our Dealings with Animals?". Environmental Values. 23 (6): 727–742. doi:10.3197/096327114X13947900181950. ISSN 0963-2719. JSTOR 43695197.
^Cooper, David E. (1998), Holland, Alan; Johnson, Andrew (eds.), "Intervention, humility and animal integrity", Animal Biotechnology and Ethics, Boston, MA: Springer US, pp. 145–155, doi:10.1007/978-1-4615-5783-8_11, ISBN978-1-4615-5783-8, retrieved 2021-02-03
^Ortiz, Sara Elizabeth Gavrell (2004). "Beyond Welfare: Animal Integrity, Animal Dignity, and Genetic Engineering". Ethics and the Environment. 9 (1): 94–120. doi:10.2979/ETE.2004.9.1.94. ISSN 1085-6633. JSTOR 40339079.
^ abcShriver, Adam (April 17, 2009). "Knocking Out Pain in Livestock: Can Technology Succeed Where Morality has Stalled?" (PDF). Retrieved May 14, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
^Camenzind, S; Eggel, M (2022). "The 3Rs principles and genetic pain disenhancement" (PDF). Retrieved May 14, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
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animal, disenhancement, diminishment, practice, selectively, breeding, genetically, engineering, animals, reduce, their, capacities, also, their, environment, better, reduce, animals, natural, capabilities, this, term, coined, popularized, paul, thompson, prom. Animal disenhancement or diminishment 1 is the practice of selectively breeding or genetically engineering animals to reduce their capacities 2 It is also to fit in their environment better or to reduce animals natural capabilities This term was coined and popularized by Paul B Thompson A prominent example is breeding genetically blind chickens 1 2 3 4 which tend to peck their peers less than sighted chickens 5 A strain of chickens without eyesight were accidentally bred and they were not as stressed in large groups as those with eyesight 2 Normal chickens were aggressive and pecked their peers but these blind chickens were less aggressive and did not harm each other as much Animal ethicists have argued that farming diminished animals is morally preferable to farming present day breeds if their lives contain less suffering However they have disagreed as to whether diminished animals lives do contain less suffering 1 2 Animal disenhancement can be seen as a spectrum at the end of which lie animal microencephalic lumps also microcephalic 6 AMLs 1 AMLs are hypothetical non sentient animals that humans might some day create AMLs would have such small brains that they would lack the cognitive capacity to feel pain or have interests 7 Contents 1 Dumb Down 2 Why Animal Disenhancement Might Be Necessary 3 The 3Rs 4 See also 5 ReferencesDumb Down editThere is also a term called human enhancement in which nanotechnologies are used to improve a human s cognitive abilities but it could also be reversed and used to reduce animals cognitive abilities 2 This possible solution is called dumb down Dumb down was a concept that was imagined 20 years ago by Bernard Rollin 2 Rollin wanted to test painful diseases on animals and he wanted the animals to exhibit the diseases for research on biomedicine Although it was only a concept he imagined the possibility of genetically modifying the pain receptors of animals so that they would not show pain However with this idea many criticized the moral ethics of it One of the groups Rollin faced stated that this could hurt the dignity of the organisms Another scientist named Adam Shriver has expressed that we should replace farm animals with ones that have been genetically modified or engineered to not have brain enzymes that trigger pain 8 Animals would have a different feeling and reaction but not in a way that is thought of as painful and is associated with suffering Why Animal Disenhancement Might Be Necessary editPeter Singer wrote Animal Liberation as a way to spread the animal liberation movement He argues that people should become vegetarians because of the immense suffering that millions of animals must endure on farms 8 This book was written in 1975 and has convinced millions to become vegetarian Unfortunately the consumption of meat has gone up by over 30 pounds per person by 2007 in the United States With the population also rising the efforts of animal rights activists have not been enough This is why Adam Shriver proposes the idea of reducing suffering by eliminating animals brain functions so they cannot suffer from pain 8 The 3Rs editThe 3Rs were developed by two men named Russell and Burch to regulate more humane animal research The 3Rs stand for replacement reduction and refinement Full replacement aims to substitute the use of animals that are exploited for research There is also partial replacement which can include animals in operations where they do not suffer much Reduction means limiting the number of animals used and refinement means limiting the suffering that animals must endure This is relevant because it is well known that animal research causes lots of pain and it has grown to millions every year The general consensus is that this is morally wrong The reason that it is hard to reduce this suffering and to carry out stricter policies is that it can be expensive As well as being expensive it must be able to be applied to large amounts of animals To enhance animal welfare and to reduce this suffering a possible solution is genetic disenhancement 9 See also editCellular agriculture the production of animal tissue from cells rather than living animals Cultured meat an instance of cellular agriculture References edit a b c d Schultz Bergin Marcus 2017 The Dignity of Diminished Animals Species Norms and Engineering to Improve Welfare Ethical Theory and Moral Practice 20 4 843 856 doi 10 1007 s10677 017 9828 8 ISSN 1386 2820 S2CID 149433458 a b c d e f Thompson Paul B 2008 12 01 The Opposite of Human Enhancement Nanotechnology and the Blind Chicken Problem NanoEthics 2 3 305 316 doi 10 1007 s11569 008 0052 9 ISSN 1871 4765 S2CID 143982071 Ali AHMED Cheng KIMBERLY M 1985 05 01 Early Egg Production in Genetically Blind rc rc Chickens in Comparison with Sighted Rc rc Controls Poultry Science 64 5 789 794 doi 10 3382 ps 0640789 ISSN 0032 5791 PMID 4001066 Collins Sophie Forkman Bjorn Kristensen Helle H Sandoe Peter Hocking Paul M 2011 08 01 Investigating the importance of vision in poultry Comparing the behaviour of blind and sighted chickens Applied Animal Behaviour Science 133 1 60 69 doi 10 1016 j applanim 2011 04 013 ISSN 0168 1591 SANDOE PETER HOCKING PAUL M FORKMAN BJORN HALDANE KIRSTY KRISTENSEN HELLE H PALMER CLARE 2014 The Blind Hens Challenge Does It Undermine the View That Only Welfare Matters in Our Dealings with Animals Environmental Values 23 6 727 742 doi 10 3197 096327114X13947900181950 ISSN 0963 2719 JSTOR 43695197 Cooper David E 1998 Holland Alan Johnson Andrew eds Intervention humility and animal integrity Animal Biotechnology and Ethics Boston MA Springer US pp 145 155 doi 10 1007 978 1 4615 5783 8 11 ISBN 978 1 4615 5783 8 retrieved 2021 02 03 Ortiz Sara Elizabeth Gavrell 2004 Beyond Welfare Animal Integrity Animal Dignity and Genetic Engineering Ethics and the Environment 9 1 94 120 doi 10 2979 ETE 2004 9 1 94 ISSN 1085 6633 JSTOR 40339079 a b c Shriver Adam April 17 2009 Knocking Out Pain in Livestock Can Technology Succeed Where Morality has Stalled PDF Retrieved May 14 2024 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Camenzind S Eggel M 2022 The 3Rs principles and genetic pain disenhancement PDF Retrieved May 14 2024 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link nbsp This livestock related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte nbsp This article about ethics is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Animal disenhancement amp oldid 1224570362, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
