What Are Animal Rights?

April 29, 2008

A commenter asked about animal rights. Since I put together I list for her, and since it turns out she didn’t really need it anyway, I figured I’d share it in a more prominent place. This is aimed at anyone interested in animal rights/ animal liberation. So here you go:

First, here’s the Wikipedia definition. It’s a good start:

“Animal rights, also known as animal liberation, is the idea that the interests of animals, such as the interest in avoiding suffering, should be afforded the same consideration as the interests of human beings. Although animal rights advocates approach the issue from different philosophical positions, they argue, broadly speaking, that animals should no longer be regarded as property, or used as food, clothing, research subjects, or entertainment, but should instead be regarded as legal persons and members of the moral community.”

I think it’s pretty messed up that corporations are legal persons but animals are not. Don’t you? I hope so.

Here’s another Wikipedia entry for abolitionism animal rights. I suggest you start here with your questions: Animal Rights FAQ, but bookmark this page first, so you can come back easily :)

When you have more time, check these websites out, one by one:

If you want books instead of blogs, check these out, for starters:

The commenter asked me:

“‘What root system does your concept of ‘animal rights’ come from?”

My answer: They’re self-evident.

The fact that we need cages and fences to contain animals suggest they have wills of their own that that those wills do not match human desire. Moreover, having shared my life with plenty of creatures, I’ve gotten to know their personalities and can surely tell you that they are sentient beings who experience physical pain and emotional pain. I need no God or state to prove this to me. I know it from my experience and my capacity to think and empathize.

It should be noted that ethicists/ theorists/ people do not always agree. Therefore, the definition of animal rights that I use will not satisfy every other animal rights person.

More from me about animal rights:

Lastly, a little about rights in general:

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Posted by Elaine Vigneault | Filed Under Animals, Philosophy and Guidance, veganism 

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Comments

1 Responses to “What Are Animal Rights?”

  1. Joselle Palacios on April 29th, 2008 11:39 am

    It seems shockingly obvious to write this now, but until I recently read your point about cages and fences around farmed and other captive animals, I never thought of that as being one of the most compelling pieces of evidence that animals have a life of their own and are not human property. I mean, of course, I knew that and believe it. I know that from living with my dog, going to a farm sanctuary, and from how I’ve felt about animals from a very young age up until now. But we’re so used to seeing animals in cages, I didn’t even really entirely see the cage. That is a huge, simple, but really important point.

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