Animal Rights and Human Morality » (REV)

Bernard E. Rollin (Fort Collins, CO), University Distinguished Professor at Colorado State University, is professor of philosophy, professor of biomedical sciences, professor of animal sciences, and university bioethicist at the same institution. He is the author of fourteen books and over three hundred articles and is the principal architect of 1985 federal legislation dealing with the welfare of experimental animals.

It's been more than two decades since the first edition of this landmark book garnered public accolades for its sensitive yet honest and forthright approach to the many disquieting questions surrounding the emotional debate over animal rights. Is moral concern something owed by human beings only to human beings?

Drawing upon his philosophical expertise, his extensive experience of working with animal issues all over the world, and his knowledge of biological science, Bernard E. Rollin-now widely recognized as the father of veterinary ethics-develops a compelling analysis of animal rights as it is emerging in society. The result is a sound basis for rational discussion and social policy development in this area of rapidly growing concern. He believes that society must elevate the moral status of animals and protect their rights as determined by their natures. His public speaking and published works have contributed to passage of major federal legislation designed to increase the well-being of laboratory animals.

This new third edition is greatly expanded and includes a new chapter on animal agriculture, plus additional discussions of animal law, companion animal issues, genetic engineering, animal pain, animal research, and many other topics.

Journal of the American Medical Association

"Professor Rollin is a serious man with an important message. He asks us not only to recognize that those who use animals have obligations for their care and respect, but also to translate this recognition into new habits. What he asks is reasonable and timely."

Contents

Preface to the Third Edition...................................................................15
Original Preface to the Second Edition.........................................................21
Updated Preface to the First Edition...........................................................27
1. MORAL THEORY AND ANIMALS Introduction...................................................................................33
Moral Intuitions and Moral Theory..............................................................35
Finding a Fulcrum-The Need for an Ideal........................................................37
Constructing an Ideal for Animals..............................................................40
Having a Soul..................................................................................44
Relevant Differences...........................................................................45
Human Dominion.................................................................................46
Duties toward Animals as Duties toward Humans..................................................48
Reason, Language, and Moral Concern............................................................49
Social Contract Theories.......................................................................51
Kant's Theory of Reason........................................................................57
Kant's Ethic...................................................................................58
Humans as "Ends in Themselves".................................................................59
Animals asMeans...............................................................................60
Language and Reason............................................................................61
The Ordinary Notion of Rationality.............................................................65
Do Animals Behave Rationally?..................................................................66
Are Only Humans "Language-Rational"?-Do Animals Use Concepts?..................................67
Animals and Human Language.....................................................................71
Moral Concern and Nonrational Humans...........................................................71
Our Concern for Nonrational Human Interests....................................................73
The Moral Relevance of Pleasure and Pain.......................................................74
Scientific Ideology and the Denial of Animal Pain and Consciousness............................76
A Critique of Scientific Ideology..............................................................84
Variability of Pain Experience in Humans and Animals...........................................91
Interest in Survival and Freedom...............................................................94
Moral Concern and Creatures with Interests.....................................................95
Interests, Language, and Natural Signs.........................................................96
Life and Awareness as the Source of Interests: The Telos of Living Things......................99
Interests and Awareness........................................................................101
Moral Theory and Our Worldview.................................................................105
Do Animals Have "Moral Rights"?................................................................108
The Right to Moral Concern.....................................................................109
The Right to Life..............................................................................110
The Violation of Rights........................................................................114
Animals as Ends in Themselves..................................................................116
Specific Rights and Animals Nature.............................................................117
Telos and Ethology.............................................................................120
Telos and Genetic Engineering..................................................................124
Where Do You Draw the Line?....................................................................129
How Do We Deal with Competing Interests?.......................................................130
Must We Police Creation?.......................................................................135
Don't Animals Kill Each Other?.................................................................136
The Nonliving Environment......................................................................136
Don't We Have Enough Problems with Human Morality?.............................................141
Isn't All This Utopian?........................................................................141
2. ANIMAL RIGHTS AND LEGAL RIGHTS How Are Law and Morality Connected?............................................................143
Natural Law Theory.............................................................................144
Natural Rights.................................................................................145
The Rejection of Natural Law and Natural Rights: Legal Positivism..............................146
The Revival of Natural Rights..................................................................147
Rights Are a Protection for the Individual against the General Welfare.........................150
How Rights Are Established.....................................................................152
How Does This Relate to Animals?...............................................................153
Don't Animals Have Legal Rights Now?...........................................................155
Do Animals Need Rights? Their Legal Status Today...............................................155
Legalizing the Rights of Animals...............................................................162
What Can We Expect to Achieve?.................................................................166
Is Our Position Absurd?........................................................................169
Legal Rights of Animals Today..................................................................170
3. THE USE AND ABUSE OF ANIMALS IN RESEARCH Introduction...................................................................................175
The Six Senses of Research.....................................................................177
Moral Principles for Research: The Utilitarian and Rights Principles...........................180
Introduction to the Testing of Consumables.....................................................184
The LD50 Test..................................................................................185
The Draize Test................................................................................190
Carcinogen, Mutagen, and Teratogen Testing.....................................................194
The Concept of Alternatives to Animal Experimentation..........................................196
The Use of Animals in Teaching.................................................................198
Research Abuse and the Training of Scientists..................................................201
The Debasement of Language in Science..........................................................206
Creating a Revolution in Science Education-Some Personal Notes.................................208
Introduction to the Use of Animals in Basic Research...........................................217
Freedom of Thought versus the Moral Status of Animals..........................................218
The Use of "Alternatives" in Basic Research....................................................221
Theory-based Science versus Empirical Dabbling.................................................222
Improving the Lot of Research Animals..........................................................227
The Emergence of Viable Legislation............................................................231
Positive Features of the New Laws..............................................................236
Distress.......................................................................................241
Limitations and Inadequacies in the New Laws...................................................246
Animal Happiness...............................................................................250
Threats to the Current Regulatory System.......................................................252
The Role of Humanists in Science...............................................................267
Introduction to the Use of Animals in Applied Medical Research.................................269
The Focus of Medical Research and Practice: Some Philosophical Reflections.....................272
Introduction to the Use of Animals in Drug Research............................................276
Introduction to the Use of Animals for Product Extraction......................................280
Conclusion.....................................................................................283
4. MORALITY AND PET ANIMALS Morality, Empathy, and Individuality...........................................................285
The Triggering of Empathy......................................................................286
Pet Animals and the Social Contract............................................................289
The Changing Role of Companion Animals in Society..............................................292
Human Breach of Contract.......................................................................296
Violating the Right to Life....................................................................297
The Human Tragedy..............................................................................299
Violation of Telos.............................................................................300
Canine Racism..................................................................................306
Social Institutions as a Mirror of Individual Irresponsibility.................................307
Viable Legislation and the Pet Problem.........................................................311
The Need for an Educational Blitzkrieg.........................................................318
The Role of Animal Advocacy....................................................................319
The Role of Veterinarians......................................................................323
5. ANIMAL AGRICULTURE Introduction...................................................................................329
Husbandry Agriculture..........................................................................330
The Rise of Industrialized Agriculture.........................................................332
Welfare and Productivity.......................................................................335
Problems of Industrialized Agriculture.........................................................336
Sow Confinement................................................................................339
Other Problems in Confinement Swine Production.................................................347
Piglet Welfare.................................................................................349
Grower-Finishers...............................................................................351
Handling and Transport.........................................................................352
Recommendations................................................................................353
Egg Production.................................................................................354
Broiler Production.............................................................................355
Dairy..........................................................................................356
Veal...........................................................................................356
Husbandry versus Industry-Beef.................................................................358
Welfare Problems in the Beef Industry..........................................................360
Feedlots.......................................................................................362
What Is to Be Done?............................................................................362
Afterword to the Second Edition................................................................369
Afterword to the Third Edition.................................................................371
Bibliography...................................................................................373
Index..........................................................................................381