252 Journal of Animal & Natural Resource Law, Vol. X Fuzzy Toys and Fuzzy Feelings: How the “Disney” Culture Provides the Necessary Psychological Link to Improving Animal Welfare 253
fuzzy toys and fuzzy feelings: how the “disney” culture ProVides the necessary Psychological link to imProVing animal welfare
lindsay sChaFer hurt*
“Reason is, and ought only to be the slave of the passions.” ~David Hume, A Treatise of Human Nature
This statement may seem counterintuitive to some, especially why things should be a certain way. Emotion cannot cloud rationality. Logic, not feeling, ultimately convinces the decision maker. Perhaps this emphasis is why evidence in today’s courtrooms relies on expert most comprehensive tests, and the most thorough studies wins. But consider for a moment if, instead, rationality could not cloud emotion; if feeling, not logic, convinced the decision maker; if evidence progress in improving animal welfare.1 That is why reason—as far as it involves the “right” thing to do regarding animal welfare—is and ought only to be the slave of the passions.