Polowanie na zwierzęta w świetle podstawowych zasad teologii moralnej

Abstract

The article attempts to provide an ethical assessment of game hunting, an activity which arouses conflicting emotions in public debate. Thus, it seems essential that the issue be submitted for scientific consideration based on ethics and moral theology. In the light of its principles, hunting itself does not constitute human misconduct against animals and is indeed a manner of exercising the mandate of the world’s supervisor entrusted to man by the Creator. Nonetheless, it is imperative to emphasise that hunting should be justified by a reasonable cause such as the desire to satisfy an existential need or sustain balance in the ecosystem. Moreover, hunters ought to ensure that the suffering of wild game is significantly reduced. All this can be accomplished by the strict observance of the rules applicable to the organisation and implementation of hunting activities.