Self-Quiz 4.9: Alastair Norcross, Puppies, Pigs and People: Eating Meat and Marginal Cases

In Norcross's opening story, Fred tortures puppies because

he enjoys it.

it gives him a compound that is good for his health.

it gives him a compound that enhances his gustatory pleasure.

All of the above

The argument from marginal cases claims that

some animals have rational capacities to the degree that some humans do.

animals have no rights.

humans and animals have equal rights.

animals have traditionally occupied a marginal place in society, which is unjust.

Norcross concludes that

eating meat from factory farms is morally unproblematic.

giving up eating meat from factory farms is morally admirable but not morally required.

eating meat from factory farms is morally impermissible.

None of the above

According to Norcross, why can't the claim of causal impotence justify eating factory-farmed meat?

Given the amount of suffering caused by factory farming, we're obligated to try to prevent it even if the chance of doing so is tiny.

Even if our action alone has no effect, the actions of those we influence might.

A morally decent person would not eat factory-farmed meat even if his or her inaction would have no effect.

All of the above

Which of the following responses to the argument from marginal cases does Norcross not consider?

There are pragmatic reasons for treating marginal humans as if they had moral status equal to non-marginal humans.

We are justified in attributing a different moral status to animals who are just as cognitively sophisticated as marginal humans.

We are justified in treating marginal humans just as we treat factory-farmed animals.

Human beings deserve a special moral status because of features that are typical of human beings.

What widespread practice does Norcross argue is morally equivalent to Fred's torture of puppies?

Dog fighting

Keeping animals in zoos

Eating factory-farmed meat

Medical research

What trait did Aristotle believe grants humans higher moral status than animals?

Consciousness

An immaterial soul

Sentience

Rationality

What does Norcross think is the relationship between being a moral agent and being a moral patient?

All moral agents are moral patients, but not all moral patients are moral agents.

All moral patients are moral agents, but not all moral agents are moral patients.

All moral agents are moral patients, and all moral patients are moral agents.

Nothing can be both a moral agent and a moral patient.

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