Prof. Peter Kunzmann

The thesis can be summarised: the challenge for good animal husbandry in the present is that we have gone beyond the concept of the five freedoms in many respects. The five freedoms remain correct, of course, when it comes to keeping animals free from suffering. The corresponding ethical position, called pathocentric, focuses on the avoidance of suffering. It is the moral minimum consensus in our society and at the same time shapes animal protection legislation. In ethics, a modern view of animals attributes positive emotions to animals. Accordingly, the question arises as to how we can grant this to animals in husbandry; this is a real challenge, especially with cognitively rich animals such as pigs. Such features are difficult to implement in the reality of husbandry, difficult to scientifically establish and difficult to monitor legally. Today, the numerous ethical approaches demand what could be called “flourishing”: the animal should be able to realize all its capabilities according to its nature. In contrast to the pathocentric view, however, it is extremely difficult to draw a line here. Do we owe the animals a “permanent holiday”? Most of our interested contemporaries in modern societies demand better animal husbandry, which is more closely oriented towards the complete satisfaction of all the animals’ needs. This differs from the logic of the five freedoms in that it also takes into account needs does not immediately turn into suffering when frustrated. Theoretically and practically, it is difficult to take such interests of animals seriously without turning the ideals of good animal husbandry into utopian ideals.