Difference between revisions of "Animal rights"

Revision as of 21:26, January 16, 2019

The animal rights movement (sometimes called the animal liberation movement) is a liberal philosophical movement which seeks to obtain a greater level of moral rights for animals; for some activists this extends to protecting animals from unnecessary pain and suffering, whereas more extreme adherents demand that animals be given the same rights that humans have.

Most animal rights activists oppose the practice of using animals as commodities or property.^[1] Typically, animal rights activists oppose hunting, animal testing, wearing fur, and the consumption of meat. Many practice a vegetarian or vegan diet. Some activists (especially those who identify themselves as animal liberationists) even disagree with the practice of owning pets and seeing-eye dogs.^[2]

Detractors from the animal rights movement argue that since animals do not have the capacity to make moral decisions they can not be given the same rights as humans.^[1] Some opponents even argue that the goals of the movement are not animal liberation, but placing restrictions on the lives of other people.^[3] It should be noted that many prominent animal rights proponents, including Peter Singer, do not propose that animals have the capacity to make moral decisions. Rather, they argue that because humans have the capacity to make moral decisions, it is up to humans to make the moral decision about whether or not we treat animals in an acceptable manner.^[4]

David Gelernter argues:

The creationist advocacy group Answers in Genesis has suggested that the real aim of the animal rights is to justify abortion by using moral equivalence as its argument - if human beings are no better than animals, and if we can kill animals when we want (as for food or clothing), why can't we kill unborn humans? ^[6]

Atheism and the mistreatment of animals

See also: Atheism and the mistreatment of animals

Below are some articles related to irreligion and the treatment of animals:

• Atheists and dog meat eating (Dog meat slaughtering in countries with state atheism is known for its brutality.^[7])

• Cat slaughtering practices in China (Communist China’s cat meat trade is notoriously brutal.^[8])

• Cat meat trade in Vietnam (The cat meat trade in communist Vietnam is known for its barbarity.^[9][10])

• Atheism and bestiality

• Irreligion and the treatment of horses

See also

• Humane Society of the United States
• PETA
• ASPCA
• Atheism and bestiality
• Evolutionary belief and bestiality
• Liberalism and bestiality

References

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} The Basic Tenets of the Animal Rights Movement
2. ↑ ActivistCash.com
3. ↑ Center for Consumer Freedom, Animal Rights
4. ↑ Peter Singer, Animal Liberation, 2009
5. ↑ http://www.city-journal.org/html/6_4_the_immorality.html
6. ↑ [1]
7. ↑ *Chinese Dog Meat Festival | Undercover Cameras Reveal Brutality Chinese Dog Meat Festival | Undercover Cameras Reveal Brutality, ABC News, YouTube
   • For the love of dog, South China Morning Post, 2015
   • Animal Welfare Debate Is Alive and Well in Vietnam. Huffington Post, 2015
   • Now Kim Jong-un wants North Koreans to eat DOG for 'stamina food', Express, August 16, 2016
8. ↑ 375 cats saved from Chinese slaughterhouse after tip-off from heartbroken cat lover, Humane Society International website
9. ↑ DROWNED LIKE RATS Gruesome pictures show a cat meat market in Vietnam where terrified pets are caged, killed and cooked, The Sun, March 2018
10. ↑ Inside a sickening cat meat market: Photos reveal the horror of barbaric cat trade, Express, 2018