Britannica
Sources used in this answer
Why did Roger Scruton condemn factory farms?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Animal rights
A PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) demonstration in Seoul, South Korea, against the use of animals for fur in clothing.
In the context of applied ethics, the British philosopher Roger Scruton maintained a nuanced position regarding the treatment of animals. While he defended the human right to use animals in circumstances that provide some benefit to them, he explicitly condemned modern factory farms.12
Scrutonās condemnation was based on the ethical principle that animals deserve a certain standard of existence. He argued that factory farms are morally unacceptable because they fail to provide even a minimally acceptable life for the animals raised within those systems. This stance reflects his broader support for animal welfare, which he distinguished from the more radical advocacy for animal rights that seeks to end all human use of animals.12