The Blind Hens' Challenge - Does it undermine the view that only welfare matters in out dealings with animals?
By P. Sandøe, P. M. Hocking, B. Forkman, K. Haldane, H. H. Kristensen & C. Palmer
Environmental Values 23 (6): 727-742. 2014
Abstract
Animal ethicists have recently debated ethical questions raised by disenhancing animals to improve welfare. Here, we focus on the particular case of breeding hens for commercial egg-laying systems to become blind to benefit their own welfare.
Many people find breeding blind hens intuitively repellent, yet 'welfare only' appear to be comitted to endorsing this possibility, if it produces welfare gains. We call this the 'Blind Hens Challenge'. In this paper, we argue that there are both empirical and theoretical reasons why even those adopting 'welfare only' views should be concerned about breeding blind hens. But we also argue that alternative views, which - for example - claim that it is important to respect the telos or rights of an animal, do not offer a more convincing solution to questions raised by the possibility of disenhancing animals for their own benefit.
DOI: 10.3197/096327114X13947900181950