Laws or Societal Recognition?

In response to Brian - full post here

This is an interesting topic. I just wrote a post on the appropriateness of legal licensure, but this post raises an interesting question. I suppose I would still argue that licensure - that is, regulations by law - is morally appropriate, but I am not certain about its necessity, and, as you pointed out, something needs to change. I would also agree that among the most important changes is the societal change of recognition of the moral status of non-human animals.

Ideally, and we should work towards this, we would want a society in which there was little need for the laws and regulations because it would be socially unacceptable to 'own' non-human animals, and treat them in a way that is below their inherent moral value. I can also see how simply changing a law may not convince most people of their value. Many, I'd assume, would rebel against such laws and possibly treat animals worse. Still, I agree that we need to work on social recognition of animal rights (and many other rights issues on which we are painfully slow to change (i.e. gender, sexual orientation, et cetera).

Licensure

What is the relationship between animal licensure and child licensure?

I think that these two ideas are very similar, and if we concluded that one was morally necessary we would likely reach the conclusion that the other one is as well. The argument from marginal cases constantly reminds us of the truth that that non-human animals have capacities that are on par with or otherwise similar to human infants. As such, if their value is the same, any treatment and protection granted to one group should likewise be granted to the other.

I think that it would be morally appropriate to enact a law that prevents individuals from assuming guardianship and responsibility for another life if the individual is not prepared or otherwise ready. As it is, we already require other doctors and other caretakers to have certain certification and so on. This law would ideally not discriminate based on membership to a certain species.