A Discussion on Michael Allen Fox''s Change in Animal Rights Beliefs and Its Meaning

• Main Authors: Hsiu-Chuan Lin, 林秀娟
• Other Authors: 蕭振邦
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2007
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/96152024325796741944

碩士 === 國立中央大學 === 哲學研究所碩士在職專班 === 95 === Through analyzing literature, this study aims to compare the arguments and stances held by Michael Allen Fox during different time periods regarding practical animal rights issues such as "animal experimentation" and "vegetarianism"; inspect how Fox explains the moral relationship between humans and animals; then go one step further and interpret the meaning behind Fox''s change of stance. This study found that the meaning behind Fox''s change in animal rights beliefs is actually related to the complex interactions of past and present. On the whole, Fox''s ethics beliefs followed the "relationship between man and nature" route of understanding. While Fox''s earlier ethics view emphasized "anthropocentrism", his current view is the combination of many and is based on "non-anthropocentrism", yet pragmatically recognizes the subjectivity of moral agents. Adopting the "vegetarian conscience" view of moral agents will allow us to determine our role in the natural community, and implies a "revised anthropocentrism". Fox''s change in beliefs also demonstrates that the trend of development of western environmental ethics may well be called the history of the rise and divergence of the animal liberation movement. Everything people do is the product of a particular value system. The same holds true for Fox, who has shown different views of moral standards and value orientations during different periods of time.