Factory farming has been roundly criticized in the ethical literature, and has received virtually no defense. This essay uses an intuitivist, utilitarian, and ratiocentric philosophical position to provide a reasonable middle ground between twin evils: immoral non-consideration of animal interests on one hand and immoral over-consideration of those interests to the detriment of human ones on the other.

Jonathan Ashbach is assistant professor of political science at Oklahoma Baptist University.
Agriculture RegulationCivil Liberties and Human RightsCivil RightsLaw and LibertyPhilosophy and ReligionProperty Rights, Land Use, and Zoning