For most of Western history, animals were viewed as res (things) under the law. René Descartes famously described them as automata—complex machines incapable of feeling pain. This philosophical shield allowed for vivisection (live dissection) without anesthesia well into the 19th century.
rejects the premise that animals exist for human use. It posits that animals possess inherent value and fundamental rights, such as the right to life, liberty, and freedom from torture. From this perspective, the goal is not to make exploitation more humane, but to abolish the institutional use of animals entirely, granting them legal personhood. The Science of Sentience For most of Western history, animals were viewed
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ | THE ETHICAL SPECTRUM | +-------------------------------------------------------------------+ | ANIMAL WELFARE ANIMAL RIGHTS | | * Regulation of use * Abolition | | * Minimize suffering * Moral status| | * "Humane treatment" * Freedom | +-------------------------------------------------------------------+ Animal Welfare: Responsible Stewardship rejects the premise that animals exist for human use