Preliminary Metareflections

I would like to begin the book proper with a few preliminary metareflections in terms of anti-speciesist language, metaethics, and ethical principles. Language plays a pivotal role in shaping our perceptions and actions towards nonhuman animals, as highlighted by Pablo Castelló (2022). In this section of the book, I engage with various animal ethicists’ linguistic choices, illustrating progressive shifts towards less speciesist language. These linguistic adjustments aim to challenge anthropocentric views as well as promote greater respect for nonhuman beings. In fact, the discussion extends to the term “animal” itself, critiquing its exclusion of humans and highlighting the problematic human-animal divide ingrained in Western thought. I advocate for a broader, more inclusive understanding that acknowledges humans as animals, emphasizing the interconnectedness of human and nonhuman animal rights. Regarding metaethics, I take a cognitivist, realist, naturalist stance, asserting the existence of ethical truths rooted in natural properties. I discuss ethical principles such as beneficence, non-maleficence, and anti-speciesism before finally discussing the intuitive appeal of sentientism and pathocentrism.