Q&A: The Morality of Killing Cockroaches
Originally published:
This is an English translation (via GPT-5.4). Read the original Hebrew version.
The Morality of Killing Cockroaches
Question
It’s obvious that it isn’t moral to kill (or at least to cause suffering to) “ordinary” animals such as cows and dogs. Does that also apply to cockroaches, ants, etc.?
Answer
Killing that does not involve suffering is not causing suffering to animals. As for cockroaches, I do not even know whether they experience suffering at all (because of their level of consciousness). To kill them for no reason is certainly inappropriate. But if there is a need, I do not think there is a problem.