Discourse On The Principle Of Equal Consideration Of Interests

The principle of equal consideration of interests(PECI), which is introduced to ethics by Peter Singer, is an influential principle in contemporary animal ethics. Singer is an ethics scholar in the utilitarianistic tradition, which originates from Jeremy Bentham. PECI depends on presupposing utilitarianism and recognizing animals' capacity to suffer pain and enjoy pleasure(i.e., sentiment capacity). According to PECI, before making any action decision, we should equally consider related interests of all sides involved. According to PECI, all sentient creatures are objects of equal consideration of interests, members of which are some nonhuman animals. PECI seems inconsistent with ordinary people's belief that human beings should be considered first and our interests are more important than animals. So, many doubts have been given to PECI. Then supporters of PECI have made defenses. The thesis aims to show the importance, limitations, and possible modifications of PECI. In concrete, the thesis presents the backgrounds, main contents, and the utilitarianism basis of PECI, shows four important objections to PECI, and evaluates the corresponding responses to them. Objections are divided into four kinds. The first is to deny the relevance of the sentiment capacity to having the qualification of equal consideration of interests. The second is to deny the sentiment capacity's being a sufficient condition to having the qualification of equal consideration of interests. The third is to criticize utilitarianism directly. The fourth lies in showing that in some actual situations it seems that PECI fails. In spite of the objections, PECI is and will continue to be an important principle in animal ethics. To solve the current environmental ethical problems and animal ethical problems, PECI is still of great significance.