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Cruelty to animals, also called animal abuse or animal neglect, is the human infliction of suffering or harm upon any non-human animal, for purposes other than self-defense or survival. More narrowly, it can be the causing of harm or suffering for specific gain, such as killing animals for food or for their fur; opinions differ about the extent of cruelty associated with a given method of slaughter. Cruelty to animals sometimes encompasses inflicting harm or suffering for personal amusement, as in zoosadism. Laws concerning animal cruelty are designed to prevent needless cruelty. Divergent approaches to such laws occur in different jurisdictions throughout the world. For example, some laws govern methods of killing animals for food, clothing, or other products, and other laws concern the keeping of animals for entertainment, education, research, or as pets. In broad terms, there are three conceptual approaches to the issue of cruelty to animals. The animal welfare position holds that there is nothing inherently wrong with using animals for human purposes, such as food, clothing, entertainment, and research, but that it should be done in a way that minimizes unnecessary pain and suffering, sometimes referred to as "humane" treatment. Utilitarian advocates argue from the position of costs and benefits and vary in their conclusions as to the allowable treatment of animals. Some utilitarians argue for a weaker approach which is closer to the animal welfare position, whereas others argue for a position that is similar to animal rights. Animal rights theorists criticize these positions, arguing that the words "unnecessary" and "humane" are subject to widely differing interpretations, and that animals have basic rights. They say that the only way to ensure protection for animals is to end their status as property and to ensure that they are never used as commodities. == Definition and viewpoints == Before modern biology revealed similarities between humans and animals, some thinkers considered humans completely distinct from animals; the controversy over animal welfare was virtually non-existent. Renaissance thinker Leonardo da Vinci, however, who is widely considered one of the greatest geniuses in history, may once have written: Although this quote is not found in any of his collected works, da Vinci's regard for animal welfare is well-documented. He was particularly troubled by the sight of birds in captivity, and biographer Giorgio Vasari wrote that he once purchased caged birds in order to set them free.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=The life of Leonardo da Vinci by Giorgio Vasari )〕 Da Vinci also expressed anger within his notebooks with the fact that humans use their strength and power to raise animals for slaughter. René Descartes, argued that non-humans are automata, complex machines with no soul, mind, or reason.〔Midgley, Mary (May 24, 1999). The New Statesman〕 However, Close analysis shows that many human features such as language, tool use, and self-consciousness can be found in some animals.〔 Charles Darwin, by presenting the theory of evolution, revolutionized the way that humans viewed their relationship with other species. Darwin believed that not only did human beings have a direct kinship with other animals, but the latter had social, mental and moral lives too. Later, in ''The Descent of Man'' (1871), he wrote: "There is no fundamental difference between man and the higher mammals in their mental faculties." Some philosophers and intellectuals, such as Peter Singer and Tom Regan, have argued that animals' ability to feel pain as humans do makes their well-being worthy of equal consideration. There are many precursors of this train of thought. Jeremy Bentham, the founder of utilitarianism, argued in his ''An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation'' (1789): These arguments have prompted some to suggest that animals' well-being should enter a social welfare function directly, not just indirectly via its effect only on human well-being. Polling evidence suggests that the general public's concerns for the welfare of farm animals are much lesser than what is commonly believed. For one, there is little evidence that people are willing to trade their own quality of life for improvement in the well-being of farm animals. In one survey of United States homeowners, 68% of respondents said they actually consider the price of meat a more important issue.〔 Worldwide meat overconsumption is another factor that contributes to the miserable situation of farm animals. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「cruelty to animals」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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