To treat chickens more humanely, Californians voted by popular referendum to enact a law requiring minimum cage sizes for egg-laying chickens. Other large egg-producing states, such as Iowa, Nebraska, and Alabama, have not enacted such laws.
a. Is the minimum size of an egg-laying hen's cage an ethical issue?
b. Supporters of this law refer to themselves as "animal rights advocates." Should animals have rights? Which ones?
c. Is the difference in laws between California and egg-producing states evidence of ethical relativism?
d. California also enacted a law that provides that all eggs sold in California must be laid by hens living in cages that meet or exceed California's standards. Does California have the right to try to impose its ethical views on other states' citizens? Was California's motive for enacting this law solely attributable to ethical concerns?