Synopsis
Along with Peter Singer, Tom Regan (philosophy, North Carolina State U.) is co-premier of animal rights philosophy, a reputation established with The Case for Animal Rights (1985). This volume of shorter pieces reflects Regan's thinking over the past decade. Besides chapters on the meaning and repercussions of animal rights and animal liberation, two chapters address being an employee of an organization that experiments or uses animals (Regan's employer, he says, yearly kills thousands of animals). Two other chapters compare animal rights to, on the one hand, the causes for gay and lesbian rights, and on the other, the rights of African/American slaves. Regan's central thesis can be summed up as anti-utilitarian and Kantian, and is opposed to those (like Singer) wanting animal liberation without necessarily advocating rights. Regan argues that because non-human animals are similar to humans (both, for example, believe, remember, intend, and experience fear, anger, and loneliness), the two groups have a "basic moral right to respectful treatment." Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
From the Inside Flap
"Tom Regan is a master of clear argumentation, and here he expresses his views more clearly and incisively than ever. Packed with important insights and observations, Defending Animal Rights is a valuable contribution to the ongoing debates regarding animal rights and related issues." -- Susan Finsen, coauthor of The Animal Rights Movement in America: From Compassion to Respect
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.