Animal Rights: History and Scope of a Radical Social Movement - Softcover

Guither PhD, Dr. Harold D

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0809321998 ISBN 13: 9780809321995

Publisher: Southern Illinois University Press, 1998

Synopsis

In the past decade, philosopher Bernard Rollin points out, we have "witnessed a major revolution in social concern with animal welfare and the moral status of animals." Adopting the stance of a moderate, Harold Guither attempts to provide an unbiased examination of the paths and goals of the members of the animal rights movement and of its detractors.

Given the level of confusion, suspicion, misunderstanding, and mistrust between the two sides, Guither admits the difficulty in locating, much less staying in, the middle of the road. The philosophical conflict, however, is fairly clear: those who resist reform, fearing that radical change in the treatment of animals will infringe on their business and property rights, versus the new activists who espouse a different set of moral and ethical obligations toward animals.

From his position as a moderate, Guither presents a brief history of animal protection and the emergence of animal rights, describes the scope of the movement, and identifies major players such as Paul and Linda McCartney and organizations such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals that are actively involved in the movement. He concentrates on what is actually happening in the 1990s, discussing in detail the possible consequences of the current debate for those who own, use, or enjoy animals in entertainment and leisure pursuits. A reference work for students in animal sciences and veterinary medicine, the book also poses questions for philosophers, sociologists, and public policymakers as well as animal owners, animal and biomedical researchers, and manufacturers and distributors of animal equipment and supplies.

About this title

About the Author

Harold D.Guither is a professor emeritus of agricultural policy at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The author or coauthor of five books, his thirty-nine-year tenure at the University of Illinois includes two years on a USAID assignment in Jordan plus a stint as a staff member in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Reviews

Unlike many "pro" or "con" treatises on the topic, this book attempts to present a neutral overview of the animal rights movement. Beginning with the evolution of Western perspectives on animals, it defines and summarizes important animal activist terms and philosophies. The foremost areas of concernAmedical research using laboratory animals, agricultural confinement production (factory farming), dissection in the classroom, hunting and fishing, horse and dog racing, the confinement of animals in zoos or circuses, meat consumption, companion animals, and furAare treated with an attempt to present a balanced view. Guither (agricultural policy, Univ. of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign) has compiled a wealth of information concerning organizations and key players in the movement. Valuable tables and appendixes offer a list of acronyms, a who's who, financial information regarding major animal rights/welfare organizations, and chronologies of animal-oriented legislation in the United States and Europe. Recommended for academic and larger public libraries and special libraries in the fields of law or animal rights/animal welfare.AValerie Diamond, Univ. of Maryland Sch. of Law Lib., Baltimore
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Southern Illinois University Press
• Publication date: 1998
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0809321998
• ISBN 13: 9780809321995
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 272