Start Date: July 1, 2001 Finish Date: July 1, 2001

     When we make a choice of what is right or wrong, is there anything in particular that we do - or that we should - value? Certainly, in moral concerns, self-interest should not be applied. We shouldn't save a rich man over twenty poor men, simply because the rich man promises us a reward - it would not be ethically concerned if we made that choice. Nor should we value physical appearances; that is, to say, although assumptions through generalizations of physical appearances may prove to be correct at certain times - and even fruitful at others - it is in no means the proper method of moral consideration (in other words, someone cannot say person A deserves no rights because everyone like person A has trait B, which disqualifies them as a moral agent). One's gender should not be at question. And, considerably so, nor should one's race, species, class, or other scientific classification.

     If there were a question in regards to the consideration of moral value, then the answer I can give is that by which would suit practicality. If a being has interests - either of avoiding pain, gaining pleasure, or future hopes and dreams - then this being deserves moral consideration and not only moral consideration, but they should be given an equal consideration of interests. Ethics is founded on the consideration of interests, be the consideration given to only members of one race, of one species, of one sex, or of one intellectual level, ethics is founded on the consideration of interests. An equal and unprejudiced consideration of interests would know no limits - human or subhuman, white or black, male or female, born or unborn, smart or stupid. All of the said parties will have interests in most cases (however, only in some cases when concerning the unborn) and it is the ability to have interests that one ought to be granted moral value. A being should have moral value because they have interests, as you and I do. They can feel pain and suffering, happiness and joy. And the consideration of their interests includes their right to life and liberty. And their right to life and liberty includes not being murdered.

"...when I say I shall die, as I have lived, rationalist, socialist, pacifist, and humanitarian, I must make my meaning clear. I wholly disbelieve in the present established religion; but I have a very firm religious faith of my own - a Creed of Kinship I call it - a belief that in years yet to come there will be a recognition of brotherhood between man and man, nation and nation, human and subhuman, which will transform a state of semi-savagery, as we have it, into one of civilisation, when there will be no such barbarity of warfare, or the robbery of the poor by the rich, or the ill-usage of the lower animals by mankind." - Henry Salt

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