Animal Rights, Human Wrongs An Introduction to Moral Philosophy

About this book

What gives an animal 'rights?' What makes product testing on animals wrong? In Animal Rights, Human Wrongs prominent activist and philosopher Tom Regan skillfully puts forth the argument for animal rights through the exploration of two questions central to moral theory: What makes an act right? What makes an act wrong? Taking into consideration moral theories such as contractarianism, utilitarianism, and Kantian ethics, Regan provides the theoretical framework that grounds a responsible pro-animal rights perspective, and ultimately explores how asking moral questions about other animals can lead to a better understanding of ourselves.

The necessity of making a transition from moral theory to moral practice becomes startlingly clear as Reagan examines the commonplace, everyday choices that would be affected by believing in a moral theory that affirms the rights of animals. For the many people who have ever wondered "what difference does it make if animals have rights," Animal Rights, Humans Wrongs provides a provocative and intriguing answer.

Contents

Chapter 1. From Indifference to Advocacy
Chapter 2. How Animals Are Treated: Some Examples
Chapter 3. The Nature and Importance of Rights
Chapter 4. Indirect Duty Views
Chapter 5. Direct Duty Views
Chapter 6. Human Rights
Chapter 7. Animal Rights
Chapter 8. Objections and Replies
Chapter 9. Moral Philosophy and Change

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Biography

Tom Regan is an emeritus professor of philosophy at North Carolina State University and the author of numerous books on animal rights.