5. Do the pleasure and pain of non-human animals matter as much as the pleasure and pain of humans (speciesism)?

I was first introduced to the concept of speciesism in my last environmental science class here at Penn State. Before learning this idea, I had seen animals as inferior to human beings on an intellectual and physical level. That class taught me that we are all living beings serving purposes on this planet. I have friends back home who are choosing to go vegan for the sake of other living beings. While this is a sacrifice that I am not strong enough to commit to, they shared with me an insight towards sympathy for other animals. I remember watching a video on slaughter houses in that environmental science class. That video was a wake up call on the evident speciesism in our culture. Some chickens were kicked, even thrown at the wall before being packed into tight cages. For chickens to perish for human food is one thing, but torturing the animals before death is a direct result of thinking humans are superior to all other living beings. After watching these videos, I’ve tried to cut meat out of my diet. There are days where I cave, which is why I don’t label myself as a vegetarian, but I am definitely more mindful of my eating habits. These reasons are why I believe the pleasure and pain of non-human animals are just as important as the pleasure and pain of human beings.

6. Is my own life worth more than the lives of others, the same, or less (selfishness vs. altruism)?

I believe that my life matters the same as the lives of others. There are days when I pass strangers on the street and realize that they’re not just a random face, they’re people with childhood memories and families and experiences just like my own. It is easy to get sucked into my own narcissistic bubble since my life is the only life I will ever live, but that does not mean I am superior to any other life. As someone who works with children, I can see firsthand that selfishness is inherent in humans at an early age. Children are programmed to believe that their lives are the most important. Whether someone grows out of that mindset is a matter of choice, and many people remain narcissistic. I like to think of myself as an altruistic person. I see the wellbeing of my friends and family just as important as the well being of myself. When needed, I will sacrifice in order to help a loved one in need. Although it is not always agreed, I do believe that all people were created equal, and that my life matters just as much as the lives of others.

1. Is it more important to be a good person or to perform good acts (virtue ethics vs. action ethics)?

This question was harder for me to grapple, but I think it is more important to be a good person. Being a good person is a personality trait that is inherent in your mindsets and actions. Performing good acts is redeeming, but it is not a designated trait. Someone, in theory, could perform good acts while being an awful person, or perform good acts as a means to boost credibility or a reputation. Performing good acts can have ulterior motives, but simply being a good person will get you far in life. I believe that if you are a good person, then good acts will follow. A good person also tends to have a good belief system, which can easily spread to other people. To me, a good person is someone who is respectful to others, open-minded, caring, and hard-working. A good person can still accomplish great things based on their virtues. This question was more difficult because both options are beneficial. Performing good acts is a good thing, however, I believe being inherently good is even better.