Mission Impossible? Reflections on Objectification and Instrumentalization of Animals in the Economy

Wolfgang Leyk

A chapter in The Capitalist Commodification of Animals, 2020, vol. 35, pp 107-121 from Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Abstract: Human–animal economic relations range from exploitative objectification and mass killing of animals in industrial livestock to species-appropriate husbandry or collaboration of humans and animals in therapy or rescue work. Should they be abolished or are there options for their moral permissibility? I propose using a three-level model to distinguish between morally impermissible and acceptable economic relations of humans and animals. A further step explores how an animal-oriented economy can be implemented on existing markets against the background of a philosophical theory for acceptable use of animals in the economy. Rather than developing a theory, it suggests research projects for an animal friendly economy. Market sociology reveals that sophisticated markets are a potential platform for animal welfare and that they allow a countermovement against animal exploitation. This understanding of markets also connects animals to value theory or to the idea of social cost. This way a consistent theoretical frame for animal welfare in economy is imaginable and suggested for further research.

Keywords: Animal ethics; human–animal relations; industrial farming; heterodox economics; objectification; Kant (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eme:rpeczz:s0161-723020200000035005

DOI: 10.1108/S0161-723020200000035005

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