Original scientific paper

Animal species’ right to life

Ivan Cifrić

Abstract

The article presents results of the empirical research into animal species’ right to life which was carried out in 2005, on the sample of students at five faculties at the University of Zagreb (N=492). Techniques of univariate, bivariate and multivariate statistics were used in the interpretation (component analysis by GK criterion). Respondents were asked to give their opinion about three concepts: biological egalitarianism – equal rights for all living beings, anthropological exemption – human kind has bigger rights than animals and Darwinian concept – species’ rights gained in the fight for living space. The analysis showed that none of the views was greatly predominant: 58.1% of respondents accepted equal rights for human kind and animal species, 32.5% considered human rights superior to animals’ and 20.6% chose Darwinian theory. Correlation analyses have shown a connection between those views and the results of survey about “responsibility for life”, “biocentrism”, “socioecological orientation” and “religious beliefs”.
Biological egalitarianism (equal rights for all living beings) is largely accepted by respondents who favour man’s “responsibility for all life”, “respect for life”, “ecocentrism” and “cosmic irreligion”, the left-oriented, students of science, mechanical engineering and the Faculty of Philosophy. Anthropological exemption (man’s rights are bigger) is embraced by respondents close to “anthropocentrism” and “Christian beliefs”, male respondents, the right-oriented and students of Catholic Theological Faculty. Darwinian theory (species’ rights gained in the fight for living space) is mostly acceptable to respondents who are inclined to the ideas of man’s” responsibility for mankind only” and “anthropocentrism” and examinees from the Faculty of Medicine, Philosophy and Mechanical engineering.

Keywords

biocentrism; responsibility for life; animal species’ right to life; socioecological orientation; beliefs

Hrčak ID:

17651

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/17651

Publication date:

15.4.2007.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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