Animal Rights and Environmental Ethics

 As a utilitarian, Singer relies on the idea that the ability to suffer is a morally important quality. In other words, being able to suffer is sufficient for being morally considerable. He quotes Jeremy Bentham, another famous utilitarian, who said that “The question is not, Can they reason? nor, Can they talk? but, Can they suffer?” (4). In this essay, explain the relationship between suffering and “the principle of equality” Singer lays out throughout his discussion. Next, identify one key similarity between Singer’s discussion and that of Leopold, as well as one key difference between their respective views. We expect you to engage the text by including at least two carefully selected, relevant quotations, not including the quote included above. Be sure to define key terms, and explain the quotes in your own words, and why they are relevant to your essay.