Singers

In his article published in the New York Times, Michael Pollan interprets Peter Singer’s thoutghs as those of an ardent defender of animal rights, especially with regard to those slaughtered for meat.

According to Pollan, Singer looks at the moral obligation of treating people with equal capabilities and uses it in the context of the relationship between people and animals.  Singer’s argument is not to give animals equal rights with people per se, but at least consider their rights where they both share interest.

Because avoiding pain is a behavior associated with both humans and animals, animals should be given moral consideration on those grounds. Singer’s arguments, according to Pollan, have led to the conversion of thousands of people into vegetarians. Singer is therefore depicted as strong animal rights crusader.

Pollan defends the meat eating culture in a number of ways. First, he believes that animals have the habit of eating each other all the time, and therefore human beings are justified to eat them. The problem with this argument is that animals kill in order to survive. Human beings, on the other hand, do not have to kill to survive.

 His second argument on why human beings should kill animals is based on domestication of animals. His position is that farm animals would be worse off if they lived in the wild.  However, domestication is driven by a demand, and that is the reason why domesticated animals exist.

Indeed, animal rightist believe that if there were no domesticated animals, there would be no suffering for them. Pollan finally accepts that animal suffering is a legitimate problem, but expresses the need to solve human problems first. Again, this perspective puts animals at a disadvantage because they cannot participate in any moral decision making process.

Pollan appears to embrace utilitarianism on the grounds that humans owe animals that can feel pain moral consideration, and this justifies why they should be eaten. Pollan concludes that industrialization has led to the loss of human feelings, which he refers as dehumanization. Specifically, he points out that America raises and slaughters animals in a brutal manner more than any other country.

However, he insists that there is some kind of protectionism, whereby a variety of key players lack adequate information on the real status of the meat industry in America. If this information were to become available, the meat industry would undergo an overnight transformation, with meat becoming more expensive.

  People will eat meat while giving the animals the respect they deserve. Pollan does not call for total abolishment of the places where animals are slaughtered, but rather advocates for a more humane way of growing and slaughtering them.

Pollan’s argument appears more rational because his case is argued from a holistic perspective, taking views from both animal rightists and meat crusaders. His final stand is based on an analysis of the interests of both the animal rightists and meat crusaders, while that of singer appears to strictly consider animal rights only. Meat eating has featured in the diet of human beings for a long time.

The hunter-gatherer societies and the early man both exploited meat, not for luxury but for subsistence. The idea of animal farming is to sustain the meat industry without compromising the availability of meat in the future. This, however, should be done in the most humane way. For example, animals should be allocated sufficient space for exercise while they are being grown. They should also be slaughtered in such a manner that they should encounter least pain.

References

Pollan, M. (2002). An Animals Place. The New York Times magazine. Retrieved from http://michaelpollan.com/article.php?id=55 on 9th April 2009

Aretha Franklin is an American singer, songwriter and pianist commonly referred to as “The Queen of Soul”. Although renowned for her soul recordings, Franklin is also adept at jazz, rock, blues, pop, R&B and gospel. She is widely acclaimed for her passionate vocal style and powerful range. In 2008, the American music magazine Rolling Stone ranked Franklin 1 on its list of The Greatest Singers of All Time. Aretha Franklin was born March 25, 1942 in Memphis. Franklin grew up in Detroit, where her father, Rev. C. L. Franklin, served as pastor at the New Bethel Baptist Church. one of the most nfluential and important voices in the history of popular music. Aretha began singing church music at an early age. Her mother Barbara was also a gospel singer and deserted the family when Aretha was six and died four years later. Aretha and her sisters Carolyn and Erma sang regularly at their father’s church and Aretha’s first recordings( The Gospel Sound of Aretha Franklin) were made there when she was 14.

The person that influence was her aunt, Clara Ward, a renowned singer of sacred music. Many future stars including Smokey Robinson knew the family and in the ’50s Berry Gordy Jr. tried to signAretha to his Motown label but Reverend Franklin refused. Aretha ended up being signed with Columbia Records in 1960 after A;R man John Hammond heard a demo she cut in New York. She remained at Columbia for six years, cutting ten albums that failed to fully tap into her capabilities. Jerry Wexler was waiting in the wings to sign Franklin when her contract with Columbia expired. In 1966 she signed with Atlantic.

With the help of producer Jerry Wexler, arranger Arif Mardin and engineer Tom Dowd, Franklin began to make the records that would reshape soul music. Her most productive period ran from 967 through 1972. The revelations began with her first Atlantic single, “I Never Loved a Man (the Way I Loved You). ” Working closely with producer Jerry Wexler, engineer Tom Dowd and arranger Arif Mardin, Franklin followed her triumphant first album with recordings that furthered her claim to the title “Queen of Soul. ” Her next three albums – Aretha Arrives (1967), Lady Soul (1968) and Aretha Now (1968) – included “Chain of Fools,” “Think,” “Baby, I Love You,” “Since You’ve Been Gone (Sweet Sweet Baby),” and a soulful rendering of Carole King’s “A Natural Woman. ” Her lengthy tenure withAtlantic came to an end in 1979 after twelve years and nineteen albums. In the Eighties she recorded everything from gospel to dance music for Arista Records, finding the upper reaches of the charts with “Freeway of Love” and “Who’s Zoomin’ Who.

”In 1987 Franklin had the second Number One hit of her career, “I Knew You Were Waiting (for Me),” a duet with George Michael, which came exactly twenty years after she topped the chart with “Respect. ” Aretha teamed up with Rolling Stone Keith Richard in 1986 for a version of “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” that appeared in the Whoopi Goldberg movie of the same name.In 1980, Franklin’s career was given a much-needed boost by a cameo performance as Mrs. Matt Murphy in The Blues Brothers, singing Think. That same year, Clive Davis signed Aretha to his Arista Records. The singles “United Together” and “Love All The Hurt Away”, a duet with George Benson returned her to the Top 10 on the Billboard R&B Singles chart. But it was the spectacular 1982 album, Jump To It, produced by longtime admirer Luther Vandross, and the title-track single that gave Aretha her first R&B chart-topping and pop success.

The album enjoyed a long run at 1 on Billboard’s R;B Albums chart (even the Zoomin’ album only reached 3).It won an American Music Award, was nominated for a Grammy and was certified gold in early 1983 Aretha’s first gold disc since the 1976 Sparkle album. Aretha returned to gospel in 1987 with her album One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism which was recorded live at her New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit. Aretha Franklin had an interesting personal life. Twice divorced, Franklin is the mother of four grown sons. Two of them, Teddy Jr. and Kecalf, are active in the music business.

Teddy is the musical director and guitarist of Franklin’s touring band. From 1961 to 1969, Aretha was married to her manager and co-writer Ted White.In 1978 she married Cooley High actor Glynn Turman. She also had seven year relationship with Ken Cunningham (1969-1976), the father of her youngest son. While White had been a decade older than Aretha, Cunningham and Turman were both several years younger than Aretha. In late 1982 Franklin returned to Detroit for the purpose of spending the holidays with her bed-ridden father. Several months later, her ‘fear of flying’ phobia occurred.

She was subsequently thwarted from returning to Glynn in California and as a result she and Turman divorced in early 1984. Franklin’s weight has steadily increased over the years.She has attributed this to elinquishing her 25 year tobacco habit as well as to recurring depression. Aretha claims that her weight has fluctuated between 230 and 512 pounds in the last decade. Inspired by Star Jones, Franklin is planning to undergo gastric bypass surgery, but needs to lose a reported 100 pounds before this can be done. She is the godmother of Whitney Houston, who also grew up to be a major R;B and Pop music star, rising to fame in the mid- 1980s, and subsequently struggling with a wide variety of illegal narcotic addictions thereafter. A still image of Franklin was shown in the closing scene of Houston’s 1985 video for the single How Will I Know.

Billy Joel is one of the greatest musicians of all time. He has many of the greatest songs and very interesting history. Billy Joel has played music since he was 4 years old. He has more than 3 1# hits in career of singing. Billy started his career local in new york then he went big. He is still performing today and nothing has changed since. Billy Joel was inducted to the rock hall of fame 19 years ago in 1999.

Billy was on May 9, 1949. He was born in the bronx and moved to Levittown off of Long island. His parents were Howard and Rosalind Joel. He had an older brother to named Alexander he was also in the music. He was pushed to study piano only at 4 years old. His father himself was an accomplished classical pianist. By the near time he was 16 he was better than other musicians. From then on his parents knew he was going to be an amazing musician.

Billy joel was 15 and he was just a freshman at Hicksville High School. He was in the band and chorus. When he was 16 he was already in 3 bands. His friends in each bad would have to pick him up and give him a ride each time they played. In the year 1967 he dropped out of high school not graduating at all. That made his parents very upset but they soon got over it. Billy joel never attended college. He pursued in singing music.

He tried making songs and he did. His first album was horrible. It was called Cold Spring Harbor. After that disappointing first album he flew to LA to stay under the radar and not get noticed. Then in 1972 he got a big gig working as a lounge pianist. Playing at The Executive Room is where his song “Piano Man,” was published. By late 1972, recording of Joel’s “Captain Jack” had been released on the East coast grabbing positive attention. In 1972 Billy joel Married Elizabeth Weber. Executives from Columbia Records gave Joel a second chance to become a rock star. With the momentum of a Top 20 single “Piano Man” to his name, Billy Joel began recording new songs and albums.

As the years passed, Joel’s style began to evolve showing his range from pop to the bluesy jazz stylings. In the 20 years of singing he he had 33 song in top 40. In 1982 Billy and Elizabeth had problems and got divorced.He then made the song Allentown. After that song came, Tell her about it and many more songs were released in the 80’s. In 1985 he was then married to model Christie Brinkley. In 1989, with big hit “We Didn’t Start the Fire.”Joel was presented with the Grammy Legend Award. Billy joel had received the kennedy honors award too.

Billy Joel had some of the greatest hits. He had more than 3 number 1 albums. Those songs were It’s still rock and roll to me, We didn’t start the fire, and Tell her about it. He had so many other songs like You may be right or you’re only human. People loved theses song and so do I. Some tickets to these songs cost more than 150$ I know and can tell how famous Billy Joel was. People then loved him to and that’s what made so famous. With the top hits hitting the charts that’s when the money came into the game. These were some of billy Joel’s Greatest hits.

Billy Joel won many awards throughout his career. Some awards were for songs and other Awards War for kind things he did. Some awards Billy Joel has received are Billy Joel was presented with a Grammy Legend award and Kennedy Honors Awards. He had so many other Awards that can’t be counted.every award Billy Joel was given Hebrew more and more famous. These were the Awards he received.

Billy Joel is one of the greatest musicians throughout time. He had so much history behind them that was interesting and people like that. Billy Joel is still performing today like in the Madison Square Garden or the Prudential Center. People still go to concerts and enjoy it. One thing I learned from learning about Billy Joel is starting young and practicing can bring you along way. These are the reasons why I chose Billy Joel.

Environmental Ethics: Singer vs Regan Environmental ethics is defined: as a part of philosophy which considers extending the traditional boundaries of ethics from solely including humans to including the nonhuman world (Wikipedia). For example, this includes the preservation of plants and an increase of animal rights. Peter Singer and Tom Regan both argue that animals need a greater voice than their own in the debate of ethical treatment.

Despite their very different philosophical views, Singer and Regan want a similar outcome when dealing with environmental ethics it today’s society. Peter Singer, an Australian philosopher, takes a utilitarian view on nonhuman liberation. In other words actions should be judged strictly by their consequences. For example if an action benefits the largest number of individuals, over a lesser number, then that action must be good.

His central view is that moral consideration should be given to all living things but that “…does not mean treating them alike or holding their lives to be of equal value (Singer p. 58). Singer adds that “We may recognize that the interests of one being are greater than those of another, and equal consideration will then lead us to sacrifice the being with lesser interest, if one or the other must be sacrificed” (Singer p. 58). This as a whole sounds brutal but on the positive end of moral consideration is that interest shared by both humans and nonhumans have to be given equal weight.

Singer argues that “We can now draw at least one conclusion as to how the existence of nonhuman living things should enter into our deliberations about actions affecting the environment: Where our actions are likely to make animals suffer, that suffering must count in our deliberations, and it should count equally with a like amount of suffering by human beings, insofar as rough comparisons can be made” (Singer p. 59). He adds that the conclusion of making these choices will be controversial but there will be a clear cut winner. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Tom Regan is an American philosopher that takes a much different view.

He argues that not only humans have rights but animals have rights as well. Regan adds that “To be for animal welfare, as distinct from merely being against animal cruelty, is to believe that we may have a duty to improve the quality of animal life, by ensuring – so far as this is possible – that other animals are the beneficiaries of what is good for them not merely that we should avoid being cruel to them” (Regan p. 66). He emphasizes that “The welfare of nonhuman animals is important. But it is not the only thing that is important” (Regan p. 67).

Regan’s aim is to simply abolish, not reform, the current system of human and nonhuman relations. He argues that it is morally wrong for humans to use animals for their needs, stating that this action, as a result, deprives animals of their individual rights. Regan asserts that all animals have intrinsic value because they have feelings, desires, and preferences. As a result of his beliefs Regan feels that the animal rights movement is no different than the human rights movement. Peter Singer and Tom Regan have similar goals concerning environmental ethics but have much different approaches.

Singer takes a utilitarian view stating that the best solution to a moral problem is the one with the best likely consequences for the majority concerned. While on the other hand Regan takes a deontological approach to animal rights. He basis his reasoning on that like humans, animals have an understanding of the world and know what they desire from life. One problem that is worth pointing out between Singer and Regan is the loophole concerning endangered species. Singer does not look at individuals he looks at a group. With endangered species the group is small and therefore does not carry a large voice in conservation.

On the other hand Regan cannot argue for the group that is endangered but only the individual that is in question. As a result endangered species are left is constant feeling of limbo waiting for a definite answer on their place in society. Despite the differences between Peter Singer and Tom Regan they are both in agreement that some action needs to take place. The world would continue to crumble around us if it was not for two great philosophers willing to put their reputations on the line for the greater good for both humans and nonhumans. Environmental Ethics, ed. Andrew Light and Holmes Rolston III.