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Animal Rights: Definition, Issues, and Examples - The Humane League
In contrast, the animal rights position, most famously articulated by philosopher Tom Regan, is deontological—it focuses on inherent value rather than merely the absence of pain. Regan argues that certain animals are "subjects-of-a-life" who possess beliefs, desires, memory, and a sense of the future. Because they have an inherent value that is not contingent on their usefulness to others, they possess fundamental rights, most notably the right not to be treated as property. From this perspective, even a "happy" farm animal is wronged because its life is instrumentalized. The right to life and liberty is inviolable; therefore, animal rights advocates call for the complete abolition of factory farming, animal testing, circuses, and hunting. As philosopher Gary Francione puts it, "Rights are meaningless if they can be trumped by someone else’s pleasure, convenience, or profit." Animal Rights: Definition, Issues, and Examples - The
The animal rights movement posits that animals possess inherent rights, including the right to life, liberty, and freedom from exploitation. Proponents argue that animals have interests, needs, and desires that should be respected and protected, just as human interests are safeguarded. From this perspective, even a "happy" farm animal
The bridge between these two schools of thought is . Modern science has proven that many animals—not just mammals, but birds, cephalopods (like octopuses), and even some insects—possess the capacity to feel pain, joy, and boredom. Proponents argue that animals have interests, needs, and
