Animals_Tradeoffs_Fischer_Bob_SanMarcosTX_14January2025_Reel4215.mp3

Bob Fischer [00:00:00] It helps to put numbers on these things. And I think this is something that we're not inclined to do in a lot of moral decision making. But I think it would be better if there was a bit more of it.

Bob Fischer [00:00:10] So perfectly legitimate, great question. But in one sense, look, it's kind of an impossible question. We just have two competing values. Most of us, we really do care about endangered species. We also care about individual animal welfare. We want to respect both. And we find ourselves in this impossible choice.

Bob Fischer [00:00:33] And so, the only thing to do really, is just start asking, okay, "Well, how do we weigh these things?"

Bob Fischer [00:00:41] And so, there are different ways we can start to put numbers on it. One is to say, "Okay, look, I've got this feral cat. So, how many other animals are actually vulnerable?" Right?

Bob Fischer [00:00:53] It's not really a 1 to 1 tradeoff here. That cat's going to kill a lot of other animals, including a lot of other endangered animals. Right? In fact, there's a bunch of research on just how many birds, small amphibians, small reptiles are taken annually by free-roaming cats.

Bob Fischer [00:01:13] And once we recognize that, we can start to say, "Well, this isn't really a 1 to 1 tradeoff. This might be a 1 to 10 or a 1 to 100 or 1 to 1000 trade off over the course of a life span.".

Bob Fischer [00:01:24] And so, we really should sort of in an uncomplicated way, support the taking of the cat, the killing of the cat to protect the plover. Because just from the perspective of protecting individuals, it's going to come out in that direction.

Bob Fischer [00:01:41] So, that's one way we could go at it.