Animals are property. There are laws that supposedly protect animal interests
in being treated “humanely,” but that term is interpreted in large part to mean that we cannot impose “unnecessary” harm on animals, and that is measured by what treatment is considered as necessary within particular industries, and according to customs of use, to exploit animals. The bottom line is that animals do not have any respect-based rights in the way that humans have, because we do not regard animals as having any moral value. They have only economic value. We value their interests economically, and we ignore their interests when it is economically beneficial for us to do so.
At this point in time, it makes no sense to focus on the law, because as long as we regard animals as things, as a moral matter, the laws will necessarily reflect that absence of moral value and continue to do nothing to protect animals. We need to change social and moral thinking about animals before the law is going to do anything more.
Tag: wisdom life education animals justice inspirational-quotes veganism exploitation slavery nonviolence rights abolition ahimsa abolitionist sentience peace-movement peace-on-earth francione nonviolence-jainism peace-making
We can no more justify using nonhumans as human resources than we can justify human slavery. Animal use and slavery have at least one important point in common: both institutions treat sentient beings exclusively as resources of others. That cannot be justified with respect to humans; it cannot be justified with respect to nonhumans—however “humanely” we treat them.
Gary L. FrancioneTag: wisdom life education animals justice inspirational-quotes veganism exploitation slavery nonviolence rights abolition ahimsa abolitionist sentience peace-movement peace-on-earth francione nonviolence-jainism peace-making
I reject animal welfare reform and single-issue campaigns because they are not only inconsistent with the claims of justice that we should be making if we really believe that animal exploitation is wrong, but because these approaches cannot work as a practical matter. Animals are property and it costs money to protect their interests; therefore, the level of protection accorded to animal interests will always be low and animals will, under the best of circumstances, still be treated in ways that would constitute torture if applied to humans.
By endorsing welfare reforms that supposedly make exploitation more “compassionate” or single-issue campaigns that falsely suggest that there is a coherent moral distinction between meat and dairy or between fur and wool or between steak and foie gras, we betray the principle of justice that says that all sentient beings are equal for purposes of not being used exclusively as human resources. And, on a practical level, we do nothing more than make people feel better about animal exploitation.
Tag: wisdom life education animals justice inspirational-quotes veganism exploitation slavery nonviolence rights abolition ahimsa abolitionist sentience peace-movement peace-on-earth francione nonviolence-jainism peace-making
Inherent rights are from God, and the tragedies of the world originate in their attempted denial.
Warren G. HardingNo matter how pathetic or pitiful, every human is fated to have one moment in their lives in which they can change their own destiny.
Takayuki YamaguchiTag: equality freedom humanity people fate will destiny worth human-rights rights
One of the main arguments that I make is that although almost everyone accepts that it is morally wrong to inflict “unnecessary” suffering and death on animals, 99% of the suffering and death that we inflict on animals can be justified only by our pleasure, amusement, or convenience. For example, the best justification that we have for killing the billions of nonhumans that we eat every year is that we enjoy the taste of animal flesh and animal products. This is not an acceptable justification if we take seriously, as we purport to, that it is wrong to inflict unnecessary suffering or death on animals, and it illustrates the confused thinking that I characterize as our “moral schizophrenia” when it comes to nonhumans.
A follow-up question that I often get is: “What about vivisection? Surely that use of animals is not merely for our pleasure, is it?”
Vivisection, Part One: The “Necessity” of Vivisection | Animal Rights: The Abolitionist Approach
Tag: ethical health justification utilitarianism rights moral personhood welfare alternative vivisection
There will always be wars," Maggie told him.
"Yes," Reeve replied. "But there will also be brothers, sisters, comrades and lovers as well, and they are who we fight for. Our comrades--our brothers--beside us on the field; our wives and families at home. Wallace wishes for freedom. It is a gife given by God and should not be taken by men; it is the right of every man to be free and it is our duty to protect that right so that our children may know what it is to be free and not live under oppression.
Tag: freedom comradeship rights causes
The sin of quick anger is an idol of the heart that is not dying to our own rights.
Ron PearceTag: self-sacrifice anger rights temper
I've often observed that women can be the weakest link in women's rights.
Jean SassonA desire for privacy does not imply shameful secrets; Moglen argues, again and again, that without anonymity in discourse, free speech is impossible, and hence also democracy. The right to speak the truth to power does not shield the speaker from the consequences of doing so; only comparable power or anonymity can do that.
Nick HarkawayTag: truth power democracy freedom-of-speech anonymity privacy rights responsibilities
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