As discussed in the Green Halo, the Lifeboat Model reappears in Midgley's book. The Lifeboat Model is seen as a stark philosophy in which, if presented with a life or death situation, there is only one clear choice. However, in the first chapter of Animals and Why They Matter, Midley probes into this topic from a realistic, moral point of view.
Midley examines the Lifeboat Model in relation to relatives and competition, as a basis for moral decision making. She examines the role that competition plays in our daily lives. There is no denying that competition drives much of what we do, many times to an unhealthy point. Althetics, education, entertainment, and even survival thrive on competition. However, we cannot allow it to become the basic groundwork on which our decisions are based.
Midley also points out the the Lifeboat situation is, in reality, very rare. It only occurs in very extreme cases. In this chapter, Midley shows us a heirarchy of circles in which the inner rings have more importance than the outer rings. Midgley helps us put on a new set of "goggles" by showing us that each circle is more closely related that we think and that, in fact, each circle is strongly reliant on the others, therefore dismissing its hierarchy.
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