More than 500 scientists in new declaration: Exploitation of animals is morally indefensible

More than 500 scientists from 39 different countries, specialising in moral and political philosophy, declare that it is fundamentally unjust and morally indefensible to exploit animals. This is in a new declaration, the Montreal Declaration on Animal Exploitation, which has just been published. In it, researchers condemn the practice of treating animals as objects or commodities. Therefore, they believe that efforts should be made to close slaughterhouses, end fishing and develop plant-based food systems. The declaration is an important milestone in recognizing the right of animals to freedom from human oppression.

One of the researchers who signed the declaration is Raffaele Rodogno, associate professor at Aarhus University. Commenting on the declaration, he said:

"As a philosopher and an expert in ethics, it is important for me to sign this declaration because of the message it helps to send: many of us who spend a lot of time thinking about this issue agree with the conclusion: The exploitation of animals cannot be justified. Personally, it is also important for me to sign a declaration like this. It has a similar effect to saying "I do" when you get married. You make your commitment public and thereby strengthen it."

Rodogno hopes that the statement will be used in schools and higher education institutions and that it will be used in formal and informal political forums across nations to raise awareness of the interests of animals - and hopefully change people's attitudes in the right direction. We believe it can help answer questions like: "Is eating meat wrong?", "Why be vegan?" and "Why is fur bad?". The declaration states:

"Because it unnecessarily harms animals, animal exploitation is fundamentally unjust. It is therefore essential to work to end exploitation, in particular by striving for the closure of slaughterhouses, the banning of fishing and the development of plant-based food systems."

Intelligence level is not decisive

The signatories argue that the arguments used to support the exploitation of animals are irrelevant - particularly those relating to animals' "inferior" mental abilities, such as an animal's ability to compose symphonies or perform advanced mathematical calculations. Rodogno welcomes this message:

"We should not inflict pain on these animals and violate their interests. The fact that humans may be more intelligent than other animals in certain respects should not give us the right to violate this principle, just as this principle should not be violated when humans interact with less intelligent members of their own species."

Although the work of the signatories is rooted in different philosophical traditions, these scientists agree on the need to change our relationship with other animals by ending their exploitation. They stand together to end speciesism, where some animals are granted more rights than others based on their species. Such a position, previously held by a few individuals who were particularly empathetic to the plight of animals, is now, for the first time, supported by hundreds of scientists who have dedicated their careers to ethical considerations.

The declaration was initiated by researchers at the Centre de Recherche en Éthique de Montréal. In its ethical dimensions, it can be seen as an extension of the 2012 Cambridge Declaration on Consciousness, which states that non-human animals are conscious beings and are sentient. If you have a PhD in moral or philosophical philosophy and you agree with the Montreal Declaration, you still have the opportunity to lend your support. Interested researchers can add their signature on the website of the Centre de Recherche de Éthique de Montreál.

References

One of the researchers who signed the declaration is Raffaele Rodogno from Aarhus University. Rodogno is available for interview to explain his decision to sign the declaration.
Rodogno can be contacted at: filrr@cas.au.dk or tel. +4587162259

Publication
The Declaration was published on 4 October 2022. In English, it is called the Montreal Declaration on Animal Exploitation, but in this post, we might refer to it as the Montreal Declaration. You can read more here:

Link to the Montreal Declaration translated into Danish

Link to website where people with a PhD in moral or philosophical philosophy can sign the Montreal Declaration