Animal Rights: Making it Possible for Cows to Sue People

Wesley Smith has written a fascinating book about animal rights (Wes Smith’s blog). Not animal welfare (caring for animals in a humane fashion), but animal rights, based on the idea that animals have an intrinsic value equal to that of a human.

Smith pointed out the absurdities engendered by this position. In Spain, apes have been granted legal rights. In Switzerland, researchers have been charged to only conduct experiments that do not infringe on a plant’s dignity. In the United States, Princeton University’s Dr. Peter Singer proclaims that any person with limited cognitive ability (a baby or a person who has lost their capacities) is a “nonperson” and can presumably be used as a natural resource. “When the death of a disabled infant will lead to [a greater] total amount of happiness. The loss of happy life for the first infant is outweighed by the gain of a happier life for the second.” (Practical Ethics)

In the same way, Singer has popularized the view that, since humans are just another species, privileging a human over an animal is speciesism–the moral equivalent of racism. And since, as the radical environmentalists claim, the earth is overpopulated by people, to the detriment of other species, Eric Pianka (UT Austin) does not really see a problem with the death of 90% of the human race.

Obviously, this debate is centered in philosophy–what makes a human special–or indeed are they? But there is also an element of invalid extrapolation from science. After all, it is true that humans are genetically similar to other living organisms, even plants. But, does it necessarily follow that humans have no intrinsic dignity and value? Get the book –you decide.