當前,動物倫理(animal ethics)的議題受到許多倫理學家的關注與研究,已然成為倫理學研究的子題之一。在豐富的研究成果中,較為缺乏由道家思想的觀點對於動物倫理、動物權問題的回應。因此,接續各種關於動物倫理學說的並陳發展,本文結合個人的研究興趣與動物倫理的議題,以道家思想,特別是老子學說作為思想資源,嘗試提出老子思想面對當代動物議題時的可能回應。老子為道家的創始者,以「道」作為萬物的根源,崇尚「自然」與「無為」,提出「道法自然」的概念。首先,本文由老子正反並陳的思維模式,試圖在人類中心主義與過度強調動物權之間,提供一種跨越對立的看法;第二,根據老子「自然」與「道法自然」的思想脈絡,老子從萬物與人類各自有不同的差異,提出尊重每個個體自性的觀點;最後,運用老子「無為」的概念,提供人類尊重動物、不惡意壓迫動物的思想,以落實人類與萬物和平相處的和諧觀。
Many ethicists concern animal ethics with a lot of studies under the topic of "animal ethics" nowadays. But only few of them explore animal ethics and animal rights from the point of view of Daoism. In this paper, I attempt to respond to the issues of contemporary animal ethics in terms of Lao-tzu's philosophy. Firstly, Lao-Tzu formulates new ways of thinking that "positive" and "reverse" can coexist, with which we can cut across the confrontation between anthropocentrism and the excessive emphasis on animal rights. Secondly, according to Lao-Tzu thought that everything has differences, this thought proposes that we should respect every individual. Finally, according to Lao Tzu's sayings, Wu-wei contributes a new viewpoint that human beings should learn to have respect for animals, and should not oppress animal maliciously, and, as a result, human beings and animals can live together peacefully and harmoniously.