Ensuring conditions and treatment which avoid mental suffering. Animal Rights: Moral and Legal Personhood
Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) represent the largest scale of human-animal interaction. Billions of land animals are raised for slaughter annually under highly restrictive conditions. The philosophical shift toward rights began in earnest
The philosophical shift toward rights began in earnest with Peter Singer’s 1975 book, Animal Liberation . (Ironically, Singer is a preference utilitarian, not a strict rights theorist, but his work galvanized the movement). Following him, Tom Regan’s The Case for Animal Rights (1983) laid out the deontological argument that animals have inherent value. 18th Century 1970s 1980s [ Jeremy Bentham ]
18th Century 1970s 1980s [ Jeremy Bentham ] ------------> [ Peter Singer ] -----------> [ Tom Regan ] Focus: Sentience & Focus: Utilitarianism Focus: Inherent Value Ability to suffer & "Animal Liberation" & Deontology 3. Entertainment and Wildlife Exploitation
: Criminalizes cruelty, though often criticized for low penalties that fail to deter abuse. Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 : Governs the protection of wild animals.
Modern laboratories are legally and ethically bound to the 3Rs: Replacement (using non-animal alternatives like organs-on-a-chip), Reduction (using fewer animals per study), and Refinement (modifying procedures to minimize pain). 3. Entertainment and Wildlife Exploitation