Animal Slavery

[sven]

If one asks 'what gives us the right to (anything)' one has to arrive at the answer: 'nothing' if there is no higher power or authority than man. We have to give ourselves rights.

Well, if you look at it from the perspective of the social contract, then rights aren't so much given as negotiated (at least implicitly). In other words, we give each other rights in the founding of a society, and those who are born into, or choose to move into, the society, have those rights given to them-- and the accompanying responsibilities/penalties imposed. Where does this leave animals? Do we say, "They lack the capacity to come to a meeting of the minds with humans, and so we bear no responbility for their so-called 'rights'"? or do we say, "Because they lack the capacity to come to a meeting of the minds, it is not right to impose responsibilities/penalties on them"? You could swing both ways, to be honest.

That being said, there are very few arguments you can apply to the use/abuse of animals that have not at some point been applied to the use/abuse of people. This because those in power gravitate toward moral ideas that most benefit them, not those which serve the greatest good. And I'd argue that if there is any philosophical principle upon which a moral system should be founded, it is the idea of serving the greatest good.

I agree, for the most part. You're saying what I'm trying to say, but in a more academically correct way. :-P
I've always found the idea of the social contract a little confusing, though. It seems to me sometimes that most societies are based ultimately on the threat of punishment. When I was born, I didn't sign up for anything. But all the laws and conventions of society were already in place. I learned not to steal my little brother's candy because I knew there would be a shitstorm if I was found out. A few things that are selfish and illegal, I still feel that way about sometimes. I don't remember signing any contract!