Tom Regan's Argument For Animal Rights

The starting point of this essay is to establish and lay out an animal rights claim. The point here is not to solely list which specific rights animals have, as that goes beyond the scope of this essay, but to discuss why animals do in fact have a claim to rights, and what this means for humans. The need to understand the intrinsic, or inherent value of animals allows us to see the base from which their claim to rights is derived. Inherent value refers to the idea that animals are valuable in themselves, not in what they provide us. Tom Regan, an animal ethicist, sets out the moral grounding from which we can

Non-human animals should have the same rights that humans have such as not being used as food, clothing, entertainment, or experimentation.

A highly popularized and debated topic in our modern society is the promotion of animal equality or animal rights. Many people, philosophers included, have a wide range of opinions on this topic. Two of the philosophers studied in class who discussed animal rights were Peter Singer and Carl Cohen. Singer, who has the more extreme view on animal rights, believes that all animals are equal and that the limit of sentience is the only defensible boundary of concern for the interest of others (Singer, 171). While Cohen, who’s view is more moderate than that of Singer’s, believes that animals do not have rights, stating that to have rights one must contain the ability for free moral judgment. Though, he does believe that we as

The statement by Paul McCartney rings true, “If slaughterhouses had glass walls everyone would be a vegetarian.” Animal rights is a concept which people hardly ever consider in a serious light. Being born as a human being, having a superior mental capacity and sense of times makes people think that they can rule this world and use other living beings as they see fit. This mentality leads to people say things like “animals are born to eaten” or how Aristotle claimed “all of the nature exist specifically for the sake of men” and “that animal are merely instruments for humankind.” (Pg. 495). This way of thinking often leads to overconsumption of animals, cruelty to animals and loss of species.

Regan, T. (1985). The case for animal rights. In P. Singer (Ed.), In defense of animals (pp. 13-26). Retrieved from http://www.animal-rights-library.com/texts-m/regan03.htm

Shamarkia Minor Carol Hogan EN 1103-71 5 October 2014 Animals Have Rights Too It has always been a problem when it comes to the ‘rights’ of animals. Some people believe that these defenseless, small creatures don’t have rights that are equivalent to human rights. In Tom Regan’s article, “Animal Rights, Human Wrongs”, he attempts to get the attention of people who are taking advantage of these small animals and using them for their own selfish reasons.

In “The Case for Animal Rights,” Regan states that instead of viewing animals as existing solely for human disposal, or as having value only because they retain the same feelings of pain and satisfaction humans do, we should consider animals as

Thank you Jeremey Rifkin for strongly supporting the animal rights cause, Rifkin proves that animals indeed act much like humans and deserve to be treated more humanly. By providing proven scientific facts, Rifkin was able to take one into the mind and inner emotions of an animal. For example, as he was talking about elephants mourning for their loss, one was really able to connect to such negative feelings even if not having experienced a tremendous loss in life.

Peter Singer, David Lane, Tom Regan, And Michael Shermer all believe in the well being of animal and their rights. Singer states, “ that animals ought to have all of the rights that we think humans ought to have”. 45 million rats and mice are used in labs and almost 3 billion chickens get raised in farms, stuffed in cages, and hung upside down to be slaughtered. Regan believes, “ Any creature who has a complex mental life such as perception, desire, belief, memory, and a sense of the future amongst other attributes is a subject-of-a-life”. Every life of an animal is just as important as the other.

In “The Case for Animal Rights,” Tom Regan emphasizes his philosophy on animal and human equality. After reading further into his work, he illustrates a societal system that belittles animals and their significance to our own existence. Regan conceptualizes that animals won’t have real rights unless we change our beliefs. We need to acknowledge a problem. After identifying the issue, we must recognize that there is a need for change in society. In addition, he also reiterates the importance of the populace changing the way they view animals. The way society views animals will create a snowball effect that will influence politicians to also believe in animal rights.

Seems rhetorical, but the fact is animals live through this everyday, without even given the choice. As humans, we establish our authority among all living beings, but for what reasons? Are humans better than all other species? Or is it true that we should hold a precedence over nonhuman animals? The ultimate question then remains, should animals have as much or equal to the same rights as humans? Their are endless arguments for and against this question, and many sub arguments that go hand in hand with each side. In this paper, I will discuss the definition of what animal rights entails and expand on the history that developed it’s meaning. Furthermore, I will thoroughly discuss, reason, and explain each opinion presented by our current society as well as the positions held by previous philosophers. Lastly, I will draw a conclusion to the opinions presented by discussing my personal position on the argument of animal rights.

The study of good and bad, right and wrong, moral principles or value held by a person or society, promoting human welfare, maximizing freedom minimizing pain and suffering is called ethics. The discipline that studies the moral relationship of human beings and also the value and moral status of the environment and its non-human contents is called environmental ethics. It considers the ethical relationship between the humans and the environment. Animal and animal rights are the highlighted topic in the environmental ethics.

Anderson is an American actress-model who is also an animal activist. Anderson went to Russia to discuss issues on animal rights such as mass movement and environmental conditions of the animals during the movement. She wrote on Facebook, "The world can be a greedy, place, but let’s Russia's wildlife be free and not enslave animals for our amusement or profit. Children learn more about them through nature films than seeing them miserably confined, which sends a harmful message." One of the examples she gives is the conservation of whales and the need to protect endangered species. She sent a letter to Putin, the president of Russia, in July to block the passage of the winter bay cargo vessels because the vessel was carrying tons of whale fins

Animal rights are an important topic to discuss and review. The trouble is the vast diversity of how people see humans and animals and how they are different and yet the same. Animals are in every aspect of our lives in how they are utilized to make our lives easier, to sustain us, or as a pet. Unfortunately, the line of animals and humans blurs as the widely known belief that we are a derivation of an animal and we should treat them as we would ourselves. This viewpoint, however, can be taken to an extreme as we see pets that can be pampered quite a bit. Relating back to the four authors in our text, there is considerable controversy on how animals should be treated. While some interesting positions arise with the various authors, to

In regards to animals, the issue of rights and whether they exist becomes a touchy subject. In the essay, “Nonhuman Animal Rights: Sorely Neglected,” author Tom Regan asserts that animals have rights based upon inherent value of experiencing subjects of a life. Regan’s argument will first be expressed, later explained, and evaluated in further detail. Lastly, that fact that Regan thinks rights are harbored under the circumstance of being an experiencing subject of a life will also be discussed in terms of the incapacitated, etc.