Hmmm... I'm going to be cheap and blog off of one of the topics in the above fields under "Relevant progressive principles:". Specifically the "Better future" suggestion.
Now first off, I'd like to say that that is a hideously broad term and can be applied to many things. For instance, it doesn't specify WHOSE better future. And of course, for some people, better is a relative term.
So now that I've explained the playing field, I'm now going to add characters to it. Let's talk about a "better future" for your everyday, common house cat.
Cat's have been domesticated for thousands and thousands of years(according to some) so shouldn't we be able to see an improvement in their conditions since the time that Man first let them in their abodes? Well to be honest, I think that their lives have gotten steadily better! This doesn't only apply to cats because it seems that every animal that humanity has given "pet" status has received pretty fair treatment. They get healthcare from their owners. They never go hungry(except when they have cruel or neglegent owners... =( which is sad...). They're loved and taken care of. Of course this doesn't apply to all pets because some owners are cruel... but I'm talking about the majority of pets. So you'd think that pet's lives are pretty good and that we make their lives better...
Or do we? Does limiting an animals freedom make it's life better. I mean, sure if an animal had a disease out in the wild that could be cured by a vet if it was owned then it's life isn't too much better. But maybe pets would be happier if they were given total freedom. Of course I'm not saying to go and empty your aquarium in the nearest lake or turn loose your rabbits to ravage your neighbor's garden. No, I'm thinking that maybe it's in the animal's best interest to be left in their natural habitat and not brought into captivity. If we're talking better future here, I think that that's a good step.
Ok ok, personally I don't believe in setting pets loose or not bringing animals into captivity, because, with ever diminishing habitats, some species need artificial ones to survive. That's just one reason why not to leave them in the jungle or wherever they were. Another reason is because I personally like pets. So there's my personal bias but I'm proud of it. Hmmm... maybe you could balance it though. Keep certain exotic species in their own habitats instead of capturing them while keeping "normal"(you'd have to define that further) pets legal... I don't know. I certainly wouldn't vote for any law prohibiting certain pets cuz it's more of a personal descision than anything.
So, there's my interpretation of "Better future" as applied to domesticated animals. It's such a broad topic that I had to exploit it and write about how it applies to something random. Let's start thinking about a "Better future" for other things. How about through the eyes of a norweigan hermit? What would be a better future for him/her?(would a female hermit be a "hermitess"?)
Just thinking outside the box...
