Book Description

From Genesis to Christ, the Bible testifies to God's love and concern for animals.The same self-centeredness that led to the violence and abuse that has marked human relations also caused the abuse and exploitation of animals.The Bible, argues the author, calls upon human beings to stop their violence and abuse of each other and all other creatures.It promises that when they do, the sorrow and the suffering that marks life on Earth will five way to the joy and peace that God ordained at the creation of the world. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The health of the planet and its inhabitants are at stake!
People who have obtained their opinions from the Bible have told me such things as, "Animals were put on the earth for humans to use," or "Animal don't have souls, and they don't go to heaven." It is refreshing to read Reverend J. R. Hyland's positive, well-researched book about God's love, respect and concern for animals and how they should be treated. Reverend Hyland sheds light on such atrocities as animal sacrifices and animal slaughter and how God did not want these sacrifices and meant for all animals, both nonhuman and human, to be vegetarians. He claims that carnivorous eating is in direct contradiction to the Bible. "God said unto them...have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. And God said, 'Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.' (Gen. 1:28-29) "The restriction to a vegetarian diet as the only legitimate form of food was the standard to which all of earth's creatures had been held from the beginning of time. But during the millennia that had passed since then, human beings had become conditioned-and adapted-to a much lower form of life. Noah and his family, like the people among whom they lived, had become carnivorous." Reverend Hyland also shows how humans have altered the meaning of parts of the Bible. For example, he explains that "the Book of Genesis plainly states that animals, like humans, were created as nefesh chaya: living souls. (Gen. 1:21,30) Scholars have obscured this fact by translating the same words differently. When applied to Adam, nefesh chaya reads "living soul." (Gen. 2:7) But when the same term is used about animals it is translated as "living creature." (Gen. 2:19) He goes on to explain that even though there is no biblical basis for their belief many people use the excuse that animals do not have souls to condone "the most sadistic and cruel treatment of sentient beings." This is an informative book illustrating that nonhuman animals are not to be exploited, abused, and killed, but treated with respect, compassion, and kindness. Hopefully, our species will heed Reverend Ryland's wise and humane warnings-and soon!
-Reviewed by N. Glenn Perrett

God's Covenant With Animals
For any Christian, God's Covenant with Animals will open passages of the Bible in new ways. Particularly striking (and somewhat disturbing) is the overview of animal sacrifice in the Old Testament and how the ripples of that terror reach us today. For anyone interested in the well being of animals, but not belonging to the Christian faith, this work will still give insight into Western thinking and philosophy on the role and treatment of animals. Ultimately, after reading God's Covenant with the Animals, no one will be able to deny that what affects any part of creation, affects the rest. The interconnectedness of life, all life, is sacred. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (5)

Dolphins are way too smart to be entertaining tourists
I read the other reviews, 2 of them raved about the book and one sounds like it was written by a dolphin catcher with a Phd... I read this book and then went to the Flipper Productions Dolphin Encounter near Nassau in the Bahamas, even encountering at least one of the dolphins mentioned in the book. Every celebrity you could think of had their picture in the photo shop with dolphins. The Phd was right about the book jumping around too much. It would have been nice for continuity to hear more about his wife and how her role in his quest for example after we are introduced to her in the begining and then she is hardly mentioned through the rest of the book. This said I have to say that he is right about dolphins in captivity. I had a blast, selfishly, swimming with, dancing with, kissing and hugging dolphins- I can't wait to visit again... but it quickly becomes obvious that they are way to intelligent to be doing tricks for Katie Couric for fish. And they are better off being free to swim in the open ocean than being trapped in penned in areas for "research" and "education".

A COMPASSIONATE LOOK AT DOLPHINS
A wonderfully compassionate look at dolphins in captivity from an ex-industry insider; inspiring story that makes you want to change the world for the better.

A look at marine animals in captivity.
Although it has been several years since I read this book, it made a lasting impression on how I feel towards captivity of marine and other non-domestic animals. In addition, it opened my eyes to animal neglect and, by my defination, cruelty. For those that love animals, it's worth finding!

An unobjective look at dolphin training in the '60's
This book is filled with inaccuracies and misinformation regarding dolphins in captivity. The authors jump from topic to topic, frequently leaving the audience wondering whether the authors even wrote a rough draft of this book. Primevil and narrow minded, O'Barry infers that animal training techniques of the 1960's are still in use today. O'Barry frequently uses the book as a soapbox to promote himself as an all knowing dolphin expert who can do no wrong. Although the text does offer O'Barry's sometime clouded, but interesting history of the "old days"...the reader is left with an over all bad taste in his mouth as the book ends. The best part of the book are the archival photos of dolphins in 1960's "Flipper" television series.

Dr. Roger H. Cranium, PhD

Reports of My Death are highly exagerated!
My summary about sums it up. If you want to now everything about Karl Shapiro's later days, this is the book for you. It is not one I would recommend for doing essays or reports. ... Read more

Book Description

From the use of animals in experiments to develop medicine for people, to the preservation of endangered species in zoos, human beings' responsibility to and for their fellow animals has become an increasingly controversial subject. This book, which Jane Goodall in her foreword calls "unique, informative, and exciting," provides a provocative overview of the many different perspectives on the issues of animal rights and animal welfare in an easy-to-use encyclopedic format. Students, teachers, and interested readers can explore the ideas of well-known philosophers, biologists, and psychologists in this field, such as Peter Singer, Tom Regan, and over 125 others, all of whom have contributed original entries. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Excellent resource for all animal issues
I am the major editor of this work. I just wanted to inform interested parties that this Encyclopedia has sold 1500 copies in the first 4 weeks it's been available. ... Read more

Book Description

To what extent can animals be regarded as part of the moral community? To what extent, if at all, do they have moral rights? Are we wrong to eat them or to hunt them? Is the use of animals for scientific research justified? And can the ideas behind animal liberation be squared with those of the environmental movement?

This is the first book to provide a thorough and reasonably impartial explication of the arguments put forward on all these issues. It is Taylor's strong belief that, whatever our own views on these contentious issues may be, we benefit by exploring them more thoroughly, and also by understanding and evaluating the arguments of those who may disagree with us. He traces the background of these debates from Aristotle to Darwin, and he provides fair-minded commentaries on the positions of such influential contemporary philosophers as Peter Singer, Tom Regan, R.G. Frey, and Peter Carruthers. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The Consumate Review of the Animal Rights Issues/Arguments
It's fairly rare to find books that can take you from little to no knowledge in a given area of debate, and then put you in a position to jump in to it right away; this book does that. It's the kind of book that is accessible enough and certainly thorough enough to serve as a defining text for the issue. Also, it's just recently been updated, actually.

a great overview of ethics and animals issues
This book provides an excellent overview of, as the title says, what philosophers--both past and present--have said about the moral status of animals. It provides an encompassing overview of the literature. A new edition will be eventually be out that covers recent developments in this important and growing field of study.

For someone new to the philosophical debates or those who have been part of them for quite some time, but never bothered to carefully understand what philosophers say about the issues (e.g., most obviously, various biologists and medical persons [unnamed here!] who attempt to criticize various animal rights and animal liberation views but fail since they don't accurately present the views and the arguments in the first place], this book is a great start. People should first read this book and then find and carefully read and analyze the sources that Taylor discusses.

This would make an excellent central text in a course dealing with ethics and animals. It is also clear and well written and highly accessible: friends and foes of animal rights will benefit greatly from studying this book. ... Read more

Book Description

The first scientific exploration of those animals, from honeybees to gorillas, whose abilities should entitle them to legal rights as persons.

Are we ready for parrots and dolphins to be treated as persons before the law? In this unprecedented exploration of animal cognition along the evolutionary spectrum-from infants and children to other intelligent primates, from dolphins, parrots, elephants, and dogs to colonies of honeybees-Steve Wise finds answers to the big question in animal rights today: Where do we draw the line?

Readers will be enthralled as they follow Wise's firsthand account of the world's most famous animal experts at work: Cynthia Moss and the touchingly affectionate families of Amboseli; Irene Pepperberg and her amazing and witty African Grey parrot, Alex; and Penny Paterson with the formidable gorilla Koko. In many cases, Wise was able to sustain an extended conversation with these extraordinary creatures. No one with even a shred of curiosity about animal intelligence or justice will want to miss this book. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Succeeds brilliantly
Steven M. Wise's "Drawing the Line" presents a compelling argument for recognizing the rights of "nonhuman" animals. As a lawyer who has taught at Harvard and has championed animal rights for over twenty years, Mr. Wise directs our attention in this book to some of the recent scientific studies pertaining to animal intelligence. The evidence strongly suggests that at least some species qualify for dignity rights and other legal protections.

Mr. Wise provides introductory chapters that succinctly defines the struggle for animal rights. The author compares the historic practice of slavery with today's plight of nonhuman animals. Deep-rooted socioeconomic practices conspired to keep slavery alive for most of human history; today, animal slavery is fueled by longstanding cultural and economic forces. Consequently Mr. Wise approaches the daunting task of animal liberation with eyes wide open. He has written this book as a strategic move to further our understanding and with the hope of advancing the struggle.

To that end, I would have to say that Mr. Wise has succeeded brilliantly. The author employs a sound methodology to persuade us of the merits of his case. Mr. Wise rank-orders the intelligence of nonhuman animals by utilizing Piaget's well-known theories pertaining to the study of early childhood development. Consequently most of the chapters in the book are devoted to the study of specific animals (such as Koko the gorilla) who might represent the innate abilities of their respective species. You will be intrigued with how Mr. Wise utilizes Piagetian measures such as mirror self-recognition tests in order to compare animal performances with human intelligence.

I think that nearly everyone who reads this book with an open mind will be persuaded that at least a few species do indeed display the characteristics of "practical autonomy" that should assure them of rights under the law. Mr. Wise visits with leading researchers to demonstrate the mental acuities of specific animals; in many cases, we come to appreciate the unique personalities of these remarkable animals. The power of Mr. Wise's writing is such that the notion of subjecting these animals to cruel scientific experiments and the like seems unthinkable, and liberation suddenly appears to be a quite reasonable and humane thing to do.

In short, I highly recommend this compassionate, original and thought-provoking book to everyone who cares about animals. While the legal system may not yet have recognized the validity of Mr. Wise' argument, this book will no doubt help the good lawyer secure a favorable ruling in the court of public opinion.

Yes, Virginia, your puppy does have a soul!
In Drawing The Line, animal-rights attorney and law professor Steven M. Wise reprises and extends the arguments he presented in his highly successful first book, Rattling The Cage, on behalf of the legal personhood of chimpanzees and bonobos to that of gorillas, orangutans, dolphins, parrots, elephants, dogs, and honeybees, comparing their abilities to think, reason, remember, deceive, and play-act with those of his precocious four year-old son, Christopher. His goal is simply and modestly stated: "Shifts occur only after people come to believe that something is possible. Making the argument that at least some nonhuman animals should have basic legal rights and be recognized as legal persons is the first step toward informing policymakers, judges, and the public about what is known, and, therefore, attaining the goal." In the process, Professor Wise both confirms with scholarly and scientific citations what the reader intuitively expects - namely, that primates are more intelligent than other forms of animal life - and avoids such excesses as advocating vegetarianism which have too often vitiated the polemics of activists in the field. Like Rattling The Cage, Drawing The Line is highly readable, informative, educative, and entertaining. As Milton said, "A good book is the life blood of a master spirit," a classification to which the learned Professor Wise himself clearly belongs.

I never looked back
This is the book which introduced me to the world of animal intelligence and emotion. In Steven Wise's book, he dedicates chapters to an African Grey parrot, a pair of dolphins, an elephant matriarch, an orangutan, Koko the gorilla, Wise's own family dog, and even spends a chapter describing the intricate communication of honeybees. Wise is a lawyer, and so his goal in the book is to analyze whether or not these "nonhuman animals" (I love that wording!) fit the criteria to deserve rights under the law. Some of them do (by his estimation), and some of them don't... but Wise's writing style draws you in and his stories about the various animals he meets are fascinating (my favorite was Alex the parrot). Animal lovers will feel vindicated, and those who are unsure on the subject of animal rights may find themselves swayed by Wise's strong arguments. The writing is a little scientific at times, but the book is well worth the effort!

wonderful!
This is a ground-breaking book. Read it if you love animals, read it if you hate animals. I garuntee you will learn a lot you diddn't know. I have an African Grey Parrot myslef who is extreemily intelligent, so when flipping through the book for the the first time, I was delighted to spot the chapter 'Alex'. Alex is an African Grey who is famous throughout the bird world for his intelligence. Naturally I read this chapter right away, and was worried that the rest of the book would not live up to the expectations I developed from reading 'Alex' However; the rest of the book was fantastic. I have a brand new understanding of non-human animals and the rights the should have.

Drawing the Line: Science and the Case for Animal Rights
If you care about our animals, buy this book.
If you care about our environment, buy this book.
If you care about your health, buy this book.

After reading this book, you'll not only know the issues, you'll understand them - in a way that you'll be able to debate (and hopefully pursuade) those who don't.

you'll also realize that you have feelings.

Powerful reading and, believe it or not, this is not depressing reading; rather it is very uplifting. ... Read more

Book Description

In IS GOD A VEGETARIAN?, a linguist and New Testament scholar attempts to answer the question being asked with greater and greater frequency: "Are Christians morally obligated to be vegetarians?"

Richard Alan Young examines key biblical texts pertaining to dietary customs, vegetarianism, and animal rights, placing the passages in social context. He then provides readers with an in-depth exploration of the ethical dilemmas that Christians face when deciding whether they should be vegetarians. Young also addresses animal testing and experimentation, the fur industry, animal factories, and the effects of meat-eating on human health. Two vegetarian recipes are included at the end of each chapter and an epilogue comprises guidelines for becoming a vegetarian and a recommended reading list. Insightful and challenging, IS GOD A VEGETARIAN? poses provocative questions for vegetarians, Christians, and anyone reflecting upon his personal choices and ethical role in our world today. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

a poignant book for vegetarians or non-vegetarians
A very thoughtful friend (who is a vegetarian) recommended this book to me. Though a meat-eater for nearly 30 years, I decided to give this book a try. I was pleasantly surprised.

First, Young writes in a cool, level-headed fashion that doesn't come across as angry or accusatory. Unlike other books on the subject, this feels more scholarly and balanced.

Second, Young takes you through the Bible with remarkable insight. It is a deeply Christian work throughout. His arguments mainly depend on understanding the whole story, and what he calls "directional markers." This is a very powerful idea that I think really illuminates many modern ethical issues. To his credit, he does not try to argue that Jesus and the apostles were vegetarians, and that this message was somehow corrupted later on. He brilliantly argues that the situations of modern slaughterhouses did not exist in biblical times, and that the fundamental values of Christianity are in opposition to them. He does point out that human history in the bible is bracketed by vegetarian behavior (cf Genesis 1-2 and the Isaiah description of the "peaceable kingdom"). Why then should we not move toward this goal?

My one cavil with the book is that it is not written for the evangelical Christian (which I am). His view of Scripture would certainly make many evangelicals uncomfortable (for example his understanding of several authors writing the Pentateuch, his sometimes fuzzy statements on the nature of Jesus ministry, etc.). Occassionally I thought he cited verses out of context such that their true meaning was obscured by his intentions. Despite these flaws, I think overall his biblical exegesis is sound (Professor Young is a professor of New Testament, so this is no surprise).

I do appreciate his numerous statements along the lines of "I'm not saying everyone must stopping eating all meat in all circumstances." Instead, he thoughtfully and gently tries to challenge the reader to reconsider their own practices. I know that my own meat consumption has gone way down and am contemplating becoming a vegetarian. He encourages the reader to make slow changes, such as finding one meatless main dish per week to add into your diet. Who cannot do that? I also think much more deeply about the conditions that animals are kept in today and how they should live. Would you eat that piece of chicken or beef if you could see the animal's death? What is gluttony if not eating on more than you need? These and more questions are powerful thoughts that will challenge you throughout the book.

He Answered My Questions
I read Linzey's book, "Animal Gospel," in which he laid a good theological basis for humane care of animals and the practice of vegetarianism. However, he did not adequately address certain issues which were pressing to me. These included God giving Noah permission to eat meat, God providing a garment of skin for Adam and Eve, the sacrificial system of the Old Testament, Jesus eating meat and Paul's arguments against vegetarianism. Richard Young does and excellent job addressing all of these and other issues. He approaches each issue and question with straight forward honesty. Frequently, I felt as if he brought up an issue with which there was not good vegetarian response. However, he would address how it is normally read, frequently in complete agreement with the traditional reading of the passage, but then very gently present a fresh perspective.

Some Christian vegetarian groups use dubious historical documents to "prove" that Jesus and/or his disciples were vegetarian. Young does nothing of the kind, in fact, he debunks those attempts. He is very honest and straightforward in presenting his case.

I would strongly recommend this book for the Christian who is struggling with animal rights and vegetarianism from a Biblical perspective. If a Christian is not struggling with these issues, perhaps they should and this book would be a good place to start.

Exceptional
Dr. Young is much more than a relevant contemporary Christian, he is also an exceptional theologian, scholar/teacher of the Greek New Testament, and lives very much what he teaches. He was my Greek professor nearly 20 years ago and I must say his literary work has taken on a distilled wisdom. Best wishes to all who read his work.

M. Williams

Utterly fantastic!
One of the most important things about this book is that it does NOT, I repeat NOT, try to reinvent Jesus as a vegetarian. There have been some attempts to try to "prove" Jesus was vegetarian, but the author finds the evidence for such reinventions to not be compelling. The author basically concludes that some consumption of meat is biblically acceptable, so long as the animal has been treated with care and compassion during its life. On the other hand, the author also concludes that vegetarian is preferred, and factory farming would have to be contemptable in God's eyes. By the way, I'm personally an agnostic, and one of the reasons why I have turned away from Christianity is that the Christian church, in general, does not see the obvious truth to the immorality of factory farming. This book is must reading.

A great book: thoroughly researched and wonderfully written
My library just got this book a couple of months ago and I was the first one to read it. I became a vegetarian about a year ago because of my love for animals and recieved some not so good comments from some of my Christian friends. I am a Christian and I wanted to find reassurance from Christians that being a vegetarian was not the wrong thing to do and I found that reassurance by reading this book. ... Read more

Book Description

Every day, in labs, food factories, and industries around the world, animals by the millions are subjected to inhumane cruelty. The good news is that you can do something to help stop it. This inspiring book shows you how.
In You Can Save the Animals, Ingrid Newkirk, cofounder and president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), gives you hundreds of simple acts of kindness that can help stop animal abuse today. You will be amazed at how much of a difference you alone can make in the lives of the most innocent among us.
Inside, you'll learn how to:
·Buy from companies that don't test on animals or use animal ingredients
·Switch to clothing and cosmetics made without cruelty
·Change public opinion
·Eat healthfully and compassionately
·Put pressure on industry and government leaders
·Avoid films in which animals were harmed
·Adopt animals from a local pound or shelter instead of supporting pet stores
·Make safe travel arrangements
·And much, much more! ... Read more

Reviews (20)

Impressed by the technical quality of the information
This book is not just "why I like my dog," somewhat to my surprise. The most valuable parts of the book aren't really the suggestions about what people should do, but simply the factual descriptions of the way things are. The absolutely disgusting - but documented, true - information about the meat industry and lab animals was distressing, but I'm glad I read it. I admit that this is one of only 3 "cause" books I have ever read which actually got me to modify any aspect of my own behavior.

A fantastic book! Animal abuse industries will pan it!
This is a wonderful book, filled with beautiful true stories and sharp insights and discomforting truths about the meat, vivisection, fur, entertainment and other industries that abuse animals. They will hate it and do all they can to belittle it.

Ingrid Newkirk is a visionary and a fighter--she worked with Mother Teresa in India and as a Maryland law enforcement officer. Since 1981, she has devoted her life to saving animals, and she doesn't stop with dogs and cats. You will be entertained, shocked, amused, amazed and inspired. Find out why the organization she began now has 600,000 members worldwide, and learn easy ways you can change your shopping habits and lifestyle to thwart the animal abusers.

Newkirk's devoted supporters include Paul Harvey, Paul McCartney, Peter Falk, Alec Baldwin, Kim Basinger, Bea Arthur,Alicia Silverstone and many others. Read this book and find out why.

Shocking.
After reading this book, I feel happy knowing that by being a vegetarian, I'm not contributing towards the pain and suffering of animals.
At times, this book was really hard to read. It's hard to imagine that people can be so thoughtless and cruel to animals. I think that everyone should read this book because it will give them a better understanding of things like the circus, fur & leather, fishing and many other things involving animals.

Animal Friendly Enlightenment
As an active animal advocate always looking for help on animal cruelty awareness, the tips give concrete advice and scripting to those who want to help educate the public. One can begin education within the home then spiral publicly outward. It's never too late to start.

As Berkeley Breathed has been quoted in this book, "Thankfully there are many options to reduce the suffering of our critter friends. Find them within these pages."

animal rights
"You Can Save the Animals" is not just a book about how disgusting animal abuse is, but about how you can work to end it. The tips in here truly are simple. They can help you learn how to buy products NOT tested on animals, how to stop eating other creatures, how to know which health charities make medical advances and help people WITHOUT harming animals, how to live in peace with wildlife and take the best possible care of your own animals, boycott cruel "sports" and circuses, cut dissection in schools and so much more. There is a mixture of terribly sad but true stories, touching poems, facts, statistics, and hard-to-fight arguments in here that make it a treasure trove for those who want to do some good in the world. And, anyone who thinks PETA is just a silly, sentimental group whose ideals will not work should read this. It just might change their minds. ... Read more

Book Description

Buddhism ought to be an animal rights religion par excellence. It has long held that all life forms are sacred and considers kindness and compassion the highest virtues. Moreover, Buddhism explicitly includes animals in its moral universe. Buddhist rules of conduct—including the first precept, "Do not kill"—apply to our treatment of animals as well as to our treatment of other human beings.

Consequently, we would expect Buddhism to oppose all forms of animal exploitation, and there is, in fact, wide agreement that most forms of animal exploitation are contrary to Buddhist teaching. Yet many Buddhists eat meat—although many do not—and monks, priests, and scholars sometimes defend meat-eating as consistent with Buddhist teaching.

"The Great Compassion" studies the various strains of Buddhism and the sutras that command respect for all life. Norm Phelps, a longtime student of Buddhism and an acquaintance of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, answers the central questions of whether Buddhism demands vegetarianism and whether the Buddha ate meat. He is not afraid to examine anti-animal statements in Buddhist lore—particularly the issues of whether Buddhists in non-historically Buddhist countries need to keep or to jettison the practices of their historical homelands. ... Read more

Book Description

Media coverage of angry protestors and acts of sabotage claim so much public attention that few of us question the stereotypes that have developed around the animal research controversy. Those who support animal testing are routinely dismissed as mad scientists, emotionless logicians, or sadists with little regard for nonhuman creatures, while animal protection activists are dismissed as hysterics, antisocial radicals, or simple folk who prize rabbits and rats over human beings.

Julian McAllister Groves takes a fresh look at the arguments and talks to people on both sides to discover what really motivates them. He probes into their ideas and emotions to understand how people get involved and why the arguments become so polarized.

Living in a university town that is an important center of biomedical research, Groves could not ignore the intense opposition to research using animals. As he began to analyze the formation and activities of local protest groups, he started to attend meetings and talk to activists about their beliefs. To his surprise, many activists emphasized rational and scientific justifications for their commitment to the movement. Conversely, scientists who spoke with him frequently discussed their use of lab animals in the context of their feelings about pets or a particular animal that they had become attached to.

Hearts and Minds looks past the placards and sound bites to get to the intellectual and psychological reasons that people use to explain their positions. It discards worn generalizations and offers a nuanced portrait of people who are seriously engaged in reconciling their ethics and their behavior. ... Read more

Book Description

The boundaries between human and beast forged a rugged philosophical landscape across early modern England.Spectators gathered in London's Bear Garden to watch the callous and brutal baiting of animals.A wave of "new" scientists performed vivisections on live animals to learn more about the human body.

In Perceiving Animals, the British scholar Erica Fudge traces the dangers and problems of anthropocentrism in texts written from 1558 to 1649. Meticulous examinations of scientific, legal, political, literary, and religious writings offer unique and fascinating depictions of human perceptions about the natural world.

Views carried over from bestiaries -- medieval treatises on animals Ð-

posited animals as nonsentient beings whose merits were measured solely by what provisions they afforded humans: food, medicine, clothing, travel, labor, scientific knowledge.Without consciences or faith, animals were deemed far inferior to humans.

While writings from the period asserted an enormous biological superiority, Fudge contends actual human behavior and logic worked, sometimes accidentally, to close the alleged gap.In the Bear Garden, even a man of the lowest social rank had power over a tortured animal, sinking him, though, below the beasts.The beast fable itself fails to show a true understanding of animals, as it merely attributes human characteristics to beasts in an attempt to teach humanist ideals.Scholars and writers continually turned to the animal world for reflection.Despite this, scientists of the period used animals for empirical and medical knowledge, recognizing biological and spiritual similarities but refusing to renege human superiority.

Including an insightful reexamination of Ben Jonson's Volpone and fascinating looks at works by Francis Bacon, Edward Coke, and Richard Overton, among others, Fudge probes issues of animal ownership and biological and spiritual superiority in early modern England that resonate with philosophical quandaries still relevant in contemporary society. ... Read more

Book Description

Great Apes and Humans is the first book to present a spectrum of viewpoints on human responsibilities toward great apes.A variety of field biologists, academic scientists, zoo professionals, psychologists, sociologists, ethicists, and legal scholars consider apes in both the wild and captivity. ... Read more

Book Description

Foot-and-mouth and mad-cow disease are but two of the results of treating animals as commodities, subject only to commercial constraints and ignoring all natural and moral considerations. Chickens hanging by their necks on conveyor belts, bloated dead sheep with their legs in the air, mutilated dogs waiting to die after undergoing horrendous experiments in the name of science or even just product-testing—these are some of the images that illustrate the indifference of a consumerist society to the suffering of animals. Few are willing to recognize that the packaged, sanitized supermarket meat that materializes on their dinner tables every day is the result of an industrial process involving unimaginable pain and suffering. In this clearly argued book, Mark Rowlands claims that it is simply unjust to harm animals. As conscious, sentient beings, biologically continuous with humans, they have interests that cannot simply be disregarded. Using simple principles of justice, he argues that animals have moral rights, and examines the consequences of this claim in the contexts of vegetarianism, animal experimentation, zoos and hunting, as well as the animal rights activism that has resulted from the recognition by a relatively small group of political activists that animals cannot simply be considered in their relation to humans.

About the Practical Ethics Series: Providing clear analysis of a number of central moral issues and written by experts, the titles in Verso's new Practical Ethics Series will appeal to the student while being lively and topical enough to make them attractive to a wide general public. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

a livey and entertaining case for for animal rights
I used this book this semester in a course "Ethics & Animals Like Us" (the course title was inspired by this book). The students really liked the book. I think they found him much more readable, easy-to-understand and convincing than Tom Regan or Peter Singer. Rowlands has a rather "hip" writing style as well; more enjoyable than standard academic prose.

Rowland's moral perspective is basically this: an action is morally OK only if you'd be willing to allow it to happen *IF* you didn't know who you were. So, racist actions are wrong because you wouldn't want people to treat you that way if you were of race X; sexist actions are wrong because you wouldn't want to be treated that way if you were of sex Y.

Similarly, if you didn't know if you were a human or a non-human, would you want a system might allow you to suffer greatly and die young so that others could experience the (comparatively trivial) pleasures of eating you? Or would you want a system where you could be tortured and killed in a lab to satisfy some scientists' curiosity, or electrocuted or gassed so someone could wear your skin and try to look cool (but actually look like an idiot)? Definitely not! Rowlands argues that since it would be irrational to choose such a world -- if you didn't know your species -- it's immoral for these things to happen in the actual world. Basically, it comes down to seeing things from the others' point of view, walking in their shoes (or paws).

This is a really great book (the forward by Colin McGinn is excellent as well); everyone should read it and see practical ethics at its best. It should be yet another thorn in the side of those who who torture and kill animals for fun and profit, as well as those who support them, and have nothing of any merit to say in their own defense.

One thing the book lacks is a "for further reading". ...

Another great book from AK Press!
In this clearly argued book, Rowlands claims that it is simply unjust to harm animals. As conscious, sentient beings, biologically continuous with humans, they have interests that simply can't be ignored. Using simple principles of justice, he argues that animals have moral rights, and examines the consequences of this claim in context to vegetarianism, animal experimentation, zoos, hunting, as well as the animal rights activism that has resulted from the recognition by a fairly small group of political activists that animals can't simply be considered in relation to humans. ... Read more

Book Description

Defining speciesism as "a failure, in attitude or practice, to accord any nonhuman being equal consideration and respect," this brilliant work critiques speciesism both outside and inside the animal rights movement. Much moral philosophy, legal theory, and animal advocacy aimed at advancing nonhuman emancipation actually perpetuate speciesism, the book demonstrates. Speciesism examines philosophy, law, and activism in terms of three categories: "old speciesism," "new speciesism," and species equality.

Old-speciesists limit rights to humans. Speciesism refutes their standard arguments against nonhuman rights. Current law is old-speciesist; legally, nonhumans have no rights. "Animal laws" such as the Humane Slaughter Act afford nonhumans no meaningful protection, Dunayer shows. She also explains why welfarist campaigns are old-speciesist. Instead of opposing the abuse or killing of nonhuman beings, such campaigns seek only to make abuse or killing less cruel; they propose alternative ways of violating nonhumans’ moral rights. Many organizations that consider themselves animal rights engage in old-speciesist campaigns, which reinforce the property status of nonhumans rather than promote their emancipation.

New-speciesists espouse rights for only some nonhumans, those whose minds seem most like humans’. In addition to devaluing most animals, new-speciesists give greater moral consideration and stronger basic rights to humans than to any nonhumans. They see animalkind as a hierarchy with humans at the top. Dunayer explains why she categorizes such theorists as Peter Singer, Tom Regan, and Steven Wise as new-speciesists.

Nonspeciesists advocate rights for every sentient being. Speciesism makes the case that every creature with a nervous system should be regarded as sentient. The book provides compelling evidence of consciousness in animals often dismissed as insentient—such as fishes, insects, spiders, and snails. Dunayer argues that every sentient being should possess basic legal rights, including rights to life and liberty. Radically egalitarian, Speciesism envisions nonspeciesist thought, law, and action. ... Read more

Book Description

This comprehensive and diverse anthology, the only one of its kind, illuminates the complex evolution of moral thought regarding animals and includes writings from ancient Greece to the present.Animal Rights reveals the ways in which a variety of thinkers have addressed such issues as our ethical responsibilities for the welfare of animals, whether animals have rights, and what it means to be human.

Book Description

Vegetarianism seems to be increasing in popularity and acceptance in the United States and Canada, yet, quite surprisingly, the percentage of the population practicing vegetarian diets has not changed dramatically over the past 30 years. People typically view vegetarianism as a personal habit or food choice, even though organizations in North America have been promoting vegetarianism as a movement since the 1850s. This book examines the organizational aspects of vegetarianism and tries to explain why the predominant movement strategies have not successfully attracted more people to adopt a vegetarian identity.

Vegetarianism: Movement or Moment? is the first book to consider the movement on a broad scale from a social science perspective. While this book takes into account the unique history of North American vegetarianism and the various reasons why people adopt vegetarian diets, it focuses on how movement leaders' beliefs regarding the dynamics of social change contributes to the selection of particular strategies for attracting people to vegetarianism. In the context of this focus, this book highlights several controversies about vegetarianism that have emerged in nutrition and popular media over the past 30 years. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A great book about Vegetarianism and Vegetarians
I loved this book, even though I am not a vegetarian. This is because Dr. Maurer's writing style is excellent; she knows how to convey what she's writing about without making it sound like a lecture. It reads like a real book, supplying many facts, insights and ideas that propel you from one page to the next. It's not preachy at all, she just tells you what vegetarianism is about, and what life is like for vegetarians (The answer to that would be pretty much no different from a meat-eater). There were a lot of interesting little tidbits in this book, like how many Seventh-Day Adventists are vegetarians, and how many Yoga practitioners are also vegetarians. I also liked reading about the efforts of individuals and groups to convince food vendors (Restaurants, school lunchrooms, etc.) to offer meatless choices as part of their menus. So, if you're at all interested in the subject matter, this would be the best place to start learning more. ... Read more

Book Description

Many of us keep pet animals; we rely on them for companionship and unconditional love. For some people their closest relationships may be with their pets. In the wake of the animal rights movement, some ethicists have started to re-examine this relationship, and to question the rights of humans to "own" other sentient beings in this way.In this engaging and thought-provoking book, Stephen Webb brings a Christian perspective to bear on the subject of our responsibility to animals, looked at through the lens of our relations with pets--especially dogs. Webb argues that the emotional bond with companion animals should play a central role in the way we think about animals in general, and--against the more extreme animal liberationists--defends the intermingling of the human and animal worlds. He tries to imagine what it would be like to treat animals as a gift from God, and indeed argues that not only are animals a gift for us, but they give to us; we need to attend to their giving and return their gifts appropriately. Throughout the book he insists that what Christians call grace is present in our relations with animals just as it is with other humans. Grace is the inclusive and expansive power of God's love to create and sustain relationships of real mutuality and reciprocity, and Webb unfolds the implications of the recognition that animals too participate in God's abundant grace. Webb's thesis affirms and persuasively defends many of the things that pet lovers feel instinctively--that their relationships with their companion animals are meaningful and important, and that their pets have value and worth in themselves in the eyes of God. His book will appeal to a broad audience of thoughtful Christians and animal lovers. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Extremely Insightful
I have read virtually everything I can find dealing with theology and animals, because of my strong interest in both, and I find this is the most insightful book in print. Webb offers profound wisdom in his thinking about human/animal relations from a Judeo-Christian perspective, and his analysis of other writers' thoughts is very cogent. This is a serious and challenging book, but it is so well-written that it should be readily accessible to wide audiences.

Steve

What Animal Lovers Always Knew
I loved this book, especially the section devoted to after-life of animals. I ride endurance horses, (long distance competitive riding) and KNOW what a bond with an animal is. My champion endurance horse and I completed over 3000 miles together before a blood disease claimed his life in January. I've never felt separation like that before. As I have said many times since then, "There are a lot of people I would have rather buried that day than my best friend, my horse" The author captures many of these solid and two-way relationships. My own pastor has a hard time relating to the grace of God shown between humans and their animals. Animal lovers knew it all along! ... Read more

Book Description

Attitudes to Animals provides a foundation that the reader can use to make ethical choices about animals. It will challenge readers to question their current views, attitudes, and perspectives on animals and the nature and development of the human-animal relationship. Human perspectives on the human-animal relationship reflect what we have learned, together with spoken and unspoken attitudes and assumptions, from our families, societies, media, education, and employment. This thought-provoking book delves into what it means to be human, what it means to be animal, and the nature of the relationship between them. This is accomplished with philosophical and ethical discussions, scientific evidence, and dynamic theoretical approaches. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Why do people abuse animal's
Why do people abuse amimal's,. I am asking this question because ,people dont think about how the animal's feel, only themself's! Animals arent Science Experiment's, so why do people treat them that way?

Why do people abuse animal's
Why do people abuse amimal's,. I am asking this quetion because ,people dont think about how the animal's feel, only themself's! Animals arent Science Experiment's, so do people treat them that way? ... Read more