Loving thoroughbreds to death: conflicting values in leisure experience. Issue 5 (20th October 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Winter, Caroline
• Is Part Of: Annals of leisure research. Volume 20:Issue 5(2017)
• Page Start: 578
• Page End: 593
• Publication Date: 2017-10-20
• Subjects: Thoroughbreds -- animal abuse -- intrinsic value -- instrumental value -- ethics; Leisure -- Periodicals; Recreation -- Periodicals; Sports -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Tourism -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; 306.481205
• DOI: 10.1080/11745398.2016.1265458
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1174-5398

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Social values are thought to play an important role in determining our behaviour towards animals and other entities. In this paper, intrinsic and instrumental values for natural entities are used as the basis for discussion about the use of thoroughbred racehorses in leisure activities. Humans have divided animals into two broad, artificial groups (wild and domestic) and the entities contained within these categories are attributed with certain values. Different ethical standards for human behaviour towards animals are also applied to these two groups, which permit or inhibit the way in which they can be used. Wild animals tend to be attributed with higher intrinsic values and lower instrumental values, and they are often the subject of debates over conservation. Domestic animals are given higher instrumental value but lower intrinsic value and in recent years activist groups have exposed the horrific ways in which some of these animals have been treated.