Florence 1

Sandra Florence
September 24, 2015
PHIL-2300-F15-Drexler
Professor Jane Drexler
A Hunter in PETA Territory
1.

Wow I have so many thoughts. It was interesting to watch Georges journey. I am sure it was a great experience
for him and I recognize his perspective changed. I am a lot like George. I am as far from a vegan eater as you can
get. I grew up on a farm where we raised cows, chicken, sheep and pigs. We drank the milk from the cows, ate the
eggs from the chicken, sold the wool from the sheep and ate meat from the steers we raised. Down the road, my
Uncle had a large dairy farm. Our family went on an annual deer hunt and we ate the meat from the animals we
hunted. I believe in treating animals humanly. No one in my family wanted to see animals suffer, but they had a
purpose and we used them for sustenance and to make a living. The animal rights activists are good at using extreme
circumstances and shock value to elicit reactions. Its hard for me to take the activists serious when they do things like
hanging the human upside down and demonstrate slashing him up with mock dripping blood or painting naked women
in plaid and refusing to shake Georges hand because he has killed an animal for food. I wholly disagree with the
activists statement that Animals do not belong to us to eat, wear or entertain us. In many cases, they do in fact
belong to us. The animals we feed and nurtured on the farm belonged to us. The dairy cows my uncle raised
belonged to him. If you own a dog, they belong to you. You are responsible for them. Because frankly, they cant take
care of themselves. If you didnt make sure your dog had food and water, the dog would likely die. The calf they stole
in the night belonged to the land owner.

2.

Cartesian Dualism is a philosophy that basically purports that the body and mind are separate but dependent. Our
body cant think and our thinking minds need to have a body to function. So, I think, therefore I am. (Descartes)
Since animals dont think with logic, they are not due the same consideration as humans. While it was completely
cruel, the calves on the farm were treated as objects. Mere body parts that perform a function. Their function was to
live long enough to provide meat in some form. The chickens were treated similarly simply objects whose function
was to grow big enough to go to the slaughter facility.

3.

Carolyn Merchant believes that we treat nature as we view it. Clearly, the farmers at the dairy and chicken farm
view the animals as objects a means to an end - . When George first arrived, he indicated that the deer, cows and
chickens sole purpose was to feed him and his dog was there to serve him. I was frankly stunned at the womans
reaction when she learned that George would feed her over his dog. Of course no one would ever want that choice,
but I would indeed feed a human before I feed the dog if there were no other options to feed both. George is the
epitome of Anthropocentrism. Be believes human being are superior and the central force. Humans have a higher
value that that of animals. George indicated, Animals are meant to be eaten. On the other hand, the family he stayed
with followed Taylors bio centric view that does not assign humans a higher priority. This is evident in their Vegan diet
which also does not include dairy products. Clearly the lady running Animal Acres believes that every organism,
animal or human, has value and is worthy of equal moral consideration.

Florence 2
4.

I loved watching the transformation in George. I would have liked to see more of a transformation from the PETA
activists. He was clearly moved when he saw the Ugly things he was exposed to. Namely, the calves abandoned on
the side of the road, the size of the crates that held the calves and especially the dog that was about to be euthanized.
I think when the activists were extreme, it was difficult to take them seriously (for me and George). For example, when
the Animal Farm lady was comparing the treatment of animals to Nazis killing Jews (she did so repeatedly) and he
felt judged by her. However, he appreciated that he could disagree and still have a rational conversation with the
family he stayed with.

5.

I dont believe its a contradiction to be a meat eating animal rights activist and I think its possible to hold both
positions. The key point for me is that its possible to believe that animals have a purpose that is not the same or even
equal to that of humans, but it is also possible and ethical to treat them humanely.

6.

I think George was moved by the things he saw. I think he will still hunt. I dont think he was cruel to animals
before the experience, and I dont think he will be after the experience. I think he will share his observations with his
friends and family and he will always have an appreciation for the things he saw and felt during the 30 day experience.

7.

I have always felt uncomfortable with animal testing and Im even more so after watching some of the clips in the
video. We have to find another way. I thought it was very encouraging to listen to the doctor speak about new methods
that are more accurate and dont involve testing products on animals. I agree with George, No one wants to see an
animal suffer but they want them on their dinner plate. I believe that the activists dont always portray a balanced
view. Not every dairy farm treats animals the way the one in the video portrayed. My Uncle cared for his animals. He
would have been a poor businessman if he didnt. He needed them healthy, so they would produce an abundance of
milk. I watched hundreds of cows willingly walk right into the milking machines. When milking time came, they actually
started to line up at the door. They enjoyed the grain they were fed while they were being milked. They portrayed no
evidence that they were bothered in the least at having the milking machines hooked up. Come to think about it, they
behaved very much like machines.