ANIMAL RIGHTS

Animal rights and the theory behind it

Abstract

In this paper, we try to explore the concept of Animals Rights and the Theory behind this concept. The concept of animal rights is based on the belief that nonhuman animals have interests and rights similar, and in some cases equal, to those of humans. As such, the animal rights movement seeks to include nonhuman animals in the so-called moral community that humans belong to, by encouraging others to respect their basic interests as they would be the interests of a human. In practical terms, the adoption of animal rights into legislation would mean that nonhuman animals could not be used for food, clothing, entertainment, or experimentation. Opponents of animal rights argue that animals lack both the mental and moral capacity to be granted even the most basic rights. Animal rights were granted to animals to set limitations due to human behavior. Finally, the paper concluded with the recommendation that animal rights organizations problematic the injustice and exploitation inherent in growing someone for food, complemented by promoting values of freedom, life, respect, compassion, health, and environmental responsibility. A post humanist path to sowing the seeds of justice will rely on convincing humans not only to respect the sentience and individuality of other animals, in all their splendid diversity, but also to respect the animality in them and envision a more cooperative place for the human animal in the natural world.

Animal rights and the theory behind it

Thesis statement

Animal rights were granted to animals to set limitations due to human behavior, and people who abuse or disregard the well being of animals should be held accountable.

Introduction

The modern animal rights movement seeks a "deconstruction" of the human/ animal dualism, transforming society to a nonspeciesist worldview that conceives of other animals as inherently valuable beings with interests that deserve respect, just as humans claim to respect each other as subjects, not objects. While animal rights incorporate concerns about animal welfare based on sentience, there are important differences in how the two viewpoints view humans in relation to other animals. Animal rights can be defined as a "deontological" ethic that grants nonhuman animals the right to privacy and freedom from human intrusion, seeking an end to the domestication, enslavement, exploitation, and property status of nonhuman animals.

Animal welfare can be defined as a mainstream Western philosophy that regulates animal exploitation to reduce the suffering of nonhuman animals under human control Francione (1996) states that animal welfare: (a) recognizes animal sentience but believes nonhuman animals are not as worthy of moral respect as are humans, (b) recognizes nonhuman animals' property status while wanting to limit the rights of property owners, and (c) accepts trading nonhuman animals' interests in favor of human interests only if the latter are deemed significant and necessary (Rich, 2009).

Welfare has been the popular philosophy throughout history, likely because it does not threaten humanist claims to superiority and justifies the “humane” use of other animals for profit or human gain (Linzey & Clarke, ...