The Distinction Between Equality in Moral Status and Deserving Equal Consideration

Abstract

This essay concerns two normative concepts whose conflation in animal ethics debates leads to intellectual mischief: 1) equality in moral status, and 2) one's interests' having moral weight equal to the identical interests of others. After distinguishing and clarifying these concepts, I present a preliminary case for the thesis that animals are unequal in moral status--though their interests should be given equal consideration. In making my case, I note some general implications for the use of animals in research.