In an age where consumer consciousness is growing, it’s crucial to examine the narratives often presented to us. One such narrative is the notion that farmers love their animals by treating them “well.” However, this perspective is fundamentally flawed. The cultural visibility of the “well-treated animals” discourse is intended to appease the consciences of consumers, making them believe that it’s normal, natural, and necessary to consume animal-based products with a cleaner conscience.
The concept of “well-treated animals” makes the use and killing of animals more acceptable to society’s psyche. These discourses about the well-being of farmed animals work to deflect ethical and health concerns while facilitating the continued exploitation of sentient beings. Animal farming is built upon the exploitation of the reproductive capacities and lives of animals. This involves forced breeding, the continuous separation of mothers from their offspring, and the pain and suffering caused by industrial practices. Such practices strip away any semblance of genuine love, reducing the animals to mere commodities. This, in essence, is the epitome of selfishness.
Selfish love in this context is a love that is conditional and self-serving. It’s a love that prioritizes human benefits over the well-being of animals. This type of love is transactional, where the affection shown towards animals is tied directly to the profit they can generate. The animals are cared for only to the extent that they can continue to produce milk, eggs, or meat. Once they are no longer productive, their lives are often deemed expendable. This conditional and exploitative approach starkly contrasts with the true love and respect that animals deserve.
This concept of selfish love is not limited to the animal farming industry. It can also be seen in human relationships where individuals claim to love someone but are primarily focused on their own benefits. Such relationships are often characterized by manipulation, control, and conditional affection. The person may show love and care as long as they receive something in return, be it emotional support, financial gain, or social status. When the benefits stop, so does their so-called “love.” This kind of selfish love is detrimental and hollow, as it lacks the genuine respect, compassion, and selflessness that true love embodies.
True love for animals, much like true love in human relationships, is about recognizing their right not to be exploited for profit. It means acknowledging their sentience and their right to live free from harm. Animal rights favor the freedom of animals from human exploitation. Every animal holds a right to live a life that is free from suffering, pain, captivity, and enslavement. Does it matter how well someone treated their slaves? Or isn’t the point rather that they had slaves at all?
In conclusion, when profit is the driving force behind the care of sentient beings, their treatment will always be ethically compromised. No matter how much a farmer may claim to “love” their animals, the primary beneficiary of this supposed love is the animal farming industry itself until the benefits stop. Let’s not be deceived by the façade of love within the animal farming industry. Genuine love is about respect, compassion, and the recognition of the inherent worth of all sentient beings.
