Question 1: I think it is more important to perform good acts than it is to be a good person. I feel this way because actions can have a significant impact on the world, whereas values and beliefs without action may not make much of a difference. For example, being a good person may mean you do not support animal testing for cosmetics and other beauty products. However, in order to create a real change in the situation, one must take action and do something, perhaps a protest or petitioning, that can lead to a positive outcome. Being a good person may make a difference in the long run, but actions stir up change quicker. Although it may be argued that people who perform good acts may not have the right intentions, their actions will most likely have a positive impact on others, indirectly making them a good person. Therefore, one who performs good acts can qualify as a good person. One who qualifies as a good person, doesn’t always perform good acts.

Question 5: I believe that the pleasure and pain of non-human animals does not matter as much as the pleasure and pain of humans. Although it pains me to take this stance as an animal lover, I see the value of human life and intelligence as more important. As I reflect on this further, I question whether I feel this way because humans directly impact me more in my day to day life and I do not always see the effects non-human animals have on my life. This may lead me to believe human life is more important. However, if I were to focus just on the pain of non-human animals, I see that as possibly just as important as the pain of a human. I feel this way because non-human animals provide us with food and clothing, without which, survival would become difficult. We need to make sure there are healthy non-human animals so that we can live a pleasurable life. This is a very difficult question to answer because in some situations, such as human survival, non-human animals pleasure and pain is just as important.

Question 6: I think my own life is worth the same as the lives of others. Each individual adds to the society in which we live and has value. However, it can be argued that some individuals do not contribute to the betterment of society (i.e. criminals) and their lives are not worth as much as those who do. While I understand this argument, I feel that who we become is a matter of choices we make along the road. One is not born a criminal with a life of lesser value, but falls into that path based on previous choices made in life. However, when looking at the big picture, I think it is very important to keep in mind that if one person is hurting others in society, something needs to be done to help that individual and prevent them from hurting more people. For example, if a man or woman murders many other men and women, there should be some kind of intervention. Again, this question is difficult to answer because I believe all lives have equal value but there are circumstances in which my beliefs alter.