The introduction of Daniel Imhoff’s The Cafo Reader examines the ethical, social, and environmental repercussions of the CAFO(Concentrated Animal Feeding Organization) system. It gives us behind-the-scenes details on how most of our animal food source is raised, and exploited, in the United States.
The prominent debate here is one that has profound ethical
inconsistencies: How do these CAFOs operate? And, what ethical issues arise
from such massive animal food supply systems? Some argue that the animals
involved are not to be counted as individuals, rather to be accounted for as an
aid to the survival of humans. These “species-ist”, Imhoff states, rank humans
to be first amongst all other living things, and encourage the flourishing of
humanity as an ultimate priority, argue that animals do not feel and that they
are “soulless automata”, as depicted by René Descartes (Pg. 4). The objection to this, according to Imhoff, is clear
as to why these CAFOs are unethical, not only forcing these animals to
unnatural and synthetic environments, but to why they are unstable and subject
for moral questioning.
Imhoff proceeds to unify
moral ideals that state that no human should be enslaved, as well as those of
inequality protecting people of all sex, gender, and race, with those of animal
rights with a quote by Jeremy Bentham stating that “the day may come when the
rest of the animal creation may acquire those rights.” (Pg. 5). In addition, we
are confronted with religious opposition. With the like of the Ancient Hindus
who praised and worshipped cows for their sustenance, as well as Kosher ethical
practices that protected animals, enforcing that the creature be tended to, and
slaughtered humanely.
Ultimately, the
road to ethics is never an easy one, and the path to ethical food production is
no exception. I agree with Imhoff, that in the future, historians will look
back scornfully, almost regrettably, to these inhumane practices. That in the
end we are, indeed, as Imhoff implies, part of a system that has universal
moral values in which all creation is protected equally and “certainly they
deserve our care, respect, and mercy” (Pg. 5).
-H. G.
