Academic Writing I

ESSAY ON:
ANIMAL RIGHTS

The term Animal rights is not actually my invention. In fact, the same has its equivalent
in a phrase animal liberation. It is the idea that the most basic interests of animals should be
afforded the same consideration as the similar interests of humans. Advocates approach the
issue from different philosophical positions but agree that animals should be viewed as legal
persons and members of the moral community, not property, and that they should not be used
as food, clothing, research subjects, or entertainment.1 [strong position]
Well, definitely some would argue with that. Other than some straightforward
individuals like philosopher Robert Scruton, we see them every day, speak to them and, most
importantly, some of us are one of them Maybe I overemphasized the them, but for Ingrid
Newkirk, the former would be only a passive voice. Not many people would seem to recognize
the name of founder and president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), the
largest animal rights organization in the world. Without doubt, this lady made a powerful
impact upon our society, or should I say modern society. The truth is that animals are normally
seen as part of our environment but socially incoherent. Critics argue that animals cannot be
possessors of rights because they are unable to make social contact. The philosophy of, as
Roger Scruton sums it up,: We alone have rights!2.
The topic of animal liberation has been frequently mentioned through the history of
philosophy. Descartes, Locke, Rousseau, Kant are only a few of those who tackeled the issue.
Descartes with his automata philosophy goes hand in hand with Scruton, because what
automata are for him is non-human, mindless and unreasonable. So, it is evident that the
superiority of human race has always been a problem for development of our moral values.
Others argue that unnecessary cruelty toward animals is morally wrong. Thomas Aquinas
makes a slight modification in this view . While discussing the importance of preventing
children from tormenting animals, he wrote: "For the custom of tormenting and killing of beasts
will, by degrees, harden their minds even towards men. 3 Meaning, for the sake of the
humanity, lets be morally correct towards animals. Therefore, Aquinas himself stated that we
are the most important but his view is nonetheless a great indicator of the development of
humanity. The First known laws protecting animals were passed in Ireland in 1635.when

1

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_rights

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_rights

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_rights

pulling wool off sheep was prohibited, and attaching ploughs to horses' tails. It is interesting to
follow what we have achieved in the world of animal rights by mentioning that, today, Animal
law is taught in 113 out of 180 law schools in the United States, in eight law schools in Canada,
and is covered in universities in philosophy or applied ethics courses. Also, in 2008, Spain
became the first country to introduce an animal rights resolution, when a parliamentary
committee voted in favour of limited rights for non-human primates. I believe that this fact
supports better treatment of animals.
Its not just coincidence that Ingrid Newkirk managed to make a strong influence with
her campaigns to save animal lives. She has made it to the front pages of The Washington Post,
The New Yorker, People magazine, and other national periodicals and also appeared in lot of
television shows. Mrs. Newkirk became an important person for every animal rights supporter
because she opened up the door for most of us who believe that animals are not subordinate to
mankind.
When speaking about animals it is important to understand that we alone are animals
also, in a way/ in a way? Surely we are animals, period. We are alive and we breathe, eat and
have other needs that are similar to those of animals. Animals maybe cannot speak but are
capable of feeling pain, hunger, thirst, loneliness, and kinship. Leg holds, fur farms, puppy
mills and cosmetics are only some of the torments. Every human being should feel compassion
because it is what determines us as human. Solidarity is important and thats what animals
would bespeak to us.

Here are some quotes of famous personalities:

1)
Hold then the same view of the dog which has lost his master, which has sought him in all the
thoroughfares with cries of sorrow, which comes into the house troubled and restless, goes
downstairs, goes upstairs; goes from room to room, finds at last in his study the master he
loves, and betokens his gladness by soft whimpers, frisks, and caresses.
There are barbarians who seize this dog, who so greatly surpasses man in fidelity and
friendship, and nail him down to a table and dissect him alive, to show you the mesaraic veins!

You discover in him all the same organs of feeling as in yourself. Answer me, mechanist, has
Nature arranged all the springs of feeling in this animal to the end that he might not feel?
Voltaire
2)
A dog wags its tail with its heart
Martin Buxbaum
3)
Horse sense is the thing a horse has which keeps it from betting on people.
W. C. Fields

REFERENCES:
http://www.peta.org/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_rights
http://www.petsinpastel.com/quotes.htm