Animal Liberation: the Definitive Classic of the Animal Movement Pdf

FREE ANIMAL LIBERATION: THE DEFINITIVE CLASSIC OF THE ANIMAL MOVEMENT PDF

Arguing that all beings capable of suffering deserve equal consideration, Singer contends that the only justifiable treatment of animals is that which maximizes good and minimizes suffering. A moral wake-up call from one of the most influential and controversial ethicists of our time, Animal Liberation tackles an emotionally charged social issue with a compelling rational argument in a rousing and riveting read. A pioneering work which places animal treatment by people withing the ambit of human ethical behaviour. Whoever else deals with this subject, Peter Singer will always be the first philosopher to have confronted, analysed and resolved many of the key arguments. In the past, I can only think of St Francis of Assisi as a someone of significance who considered how non-human animals should be treated. Singer takes it to the next level which demands we change how we conduct ourselves. In the first half of the book, Singer opens our eyes in regards to how we treat the staggering majority of animals today. In the the second half, he shows us the way to a more ethical life. All with overwhelming evidence, using reason, logic, and unbiased scientific reference. One of the more important books in my life, insofar as it inspired me to switch from eating meat to being a pescatarian. I read this book for some background research. A philosopher with a specialty in ethics, Singer discusses "specieism" prejudice toward nonhuman animals and offers vivid accounts of its most gruesome by-products--chilling, horrific Animal Liberation: The Definitive Classic of the Animal Movement of animals victimized in military, scientific, and consumer product research, and the gut-wrenching realities of factory farming. Singer makes a well-reasoned, compelling argument for vegetarianism and veganism, but I'm not yet ready to make that leap. Enlightening, provocative, troubling, and consciousness-raising. One of the most influential books of my life. Totally reinforced my decision to become a vegetarian many years before. Singer is without doubt one of the great minds of our generation. This book had a pivotal influence on my life. It pushed me over the edge to become a vegetarian. The author's argument here is not really "utilitarian. A seminal book that stakes out an important issue of great relevance to anyone who wants to bring her conduct in line with defensible principles. It does a god job at identifying and Animal Liberation: The Definitive Classic of the Animal Movement two specific domains in which our treatment of animals is not what most people think we do to them worst things than we think for reasons that are less necessary than we think. It is an excellent book as a source of political inspiration. Philosophically, however, it is rather underdeveloped. This is an interesting and thoughtful book about how animals are treated and how they should be treated. Singer Animal Liberation: The Definitive Classic of the Animal Movement a considerable amount of research for this book and put a great deal of thought into his arguments. Not surprisingly, he arrives at a unique point of view that does not always coincide with the views of mainstream animal rights adherents. If anything, this fact will make this book even more interesting to people interested in the rights or welfare of animals. The first section of the book presents his overall argument that animals should be treated much better than they currently are by western society. The presentation is logical and slightly abstract. It will appeal to independent thinkers who find logic persuasive. However, readers who feel animals are so fundamentally different from humans that they need not be included in any system of ethics that governs human behavior will not find Singer's arguments at all convincing. To the extent that most readers feel this way, Singer is preaching to the choir. The second section of the book describes some of the many ways that our society horribly mistreats animals. Singer explicitly tries to present the concrete facts without unduly appealing to the reader emotionally. He wants the reader to be persuaded on an intellectual level. However, the uninformed reader will Animal Liberation: The Definitive Classic of the Animal Movement find this section of the book disturbing, and may feel Singer has failed in his attempt to merely present the facts. I do have one criticism of Singer's presentation of the abuses of animals. Although I think Singer is right that most experiments on animals are not justified by the knowledge if any that is gained, I feel that Singer unfairly characterizes the goals of many experiments. For example, in the various experiments on how being separated from their mothers affects the emotional health of monkeys, Singer says the point is merely to determine whether the monkeys are adversely affected. He points out that this is Animal Liberation: The Definitive Classic of the Animal Movement from historical observation. He totally ignores the controlled nature of the experiments and the specific conclusions that experimenters are able to draw from them. Similarly, Singer characterizes basic scientific terminology as euphemisms for animal abuse and tools for indoctrination of unsuspecting students. It is certainly fair to argue that the ends do not justify the means and that educators are disingenuous, but Singer ought to do so without resorting to straw men. In the next section Singer discusses some of the implications of his ideas for everyday behavior. These are not quite what you'd expect from a book that is sometimes described as the bible of the animals rights movement. Here Singer also acknowledges the limitations of his arguments and admits that some of his conclusions are hard to swallow. The next section of the book is a history of the ethics of animal treatment in Western civilization. It is a fascinating dissection of the fallacies and limitations of a variety of thinkers throughout history. Finally, Singer includes a little section detailing progress that has been made since first publication. He also discusses some of the questions and attacks that any animal rights advocate is sure to encounter on a daily basis. It is nice for a somewhat depressing book to end on an optimistic note and with sound practical advice. Classic book. I've heard it referred to as the "bible of the animal rights movement. We need to consume grains and not feed them to protien-on- the-hoof. Eating meat is an affront to starving humans on our planet, and a habit that demonstrates the attitude of indifference. Animal liberation : the definitive classic of the animal movement

Since its original publication inthis groundbreaking work has awakened millions of concerned men and women to the shocking abuse of animals everywhere -- inspiring a worldwide movement to eliminate much of the cruel and unnecessary laboratory animal experimentation of years past. In this newly revised and expanded edition, author Peter Singer exposes the chilling realities of today's "factory forms" and product-testing procedures -- offering sound, humane solutions to what has become a profound environmental and social as well as moral issue. An important and persuasive appeal to conscience, fairness, decency and justice, Animal Liberation is essential reading for the supporter and the skeptic alike. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. Want to Read saving…. Want to Read Currently Reading Read. Other editions. Enlarge cover. Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Open Preview See a Problem? Details if other :. Thanks for telling us about the problem. Return to Book Page. Preview — Animal Liberation by Peter Singer. Animal Liberation: The Definitive Classic of the Animal Movement Book That Started A Revolution Since its original publication inthis groundbreaking work has awakened millions of concerned men and women to the shocking abuse of animals everywhere -- inspiring a worldwide movement to eliminate much Animal Liberation: The Definitive Classic of the Animal Movement the cruel and unnecessary laboratory animal experimentation of years past. In this newly revised and expanded edition, autho The Book That Started A Revolution Since its original publication inthis groundbreaking work has awakened millions of concerned men and women to the shocking abuse of animals everywhere -- inspiring a worldwide movement to eliminate much of the cruel and unnecessary laboratory animal experimentation of years past. Get A Copy. Paperbackpages. Published December 1st by Ecco Press first published September 1st More Details Original Animal Liberation: The Definitive Classic of the Animal Movement. Other Editions Friend Reviews. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. To ask other readers questions about Animal Liberationplease sign up. Lists with This Book. Community Reviews. Showing Average rating 4. Rating details. More filters. Sort order. Start your review of Animal Liberation. Dec 21, Scott rated it it was amazing Shelves: favouritesnon-fic. I write this review from a place of some bias. Rotisserie chicken. Lamb chops. Roast Beef. These words marked out the evenings of my childhood. We ate meat twice a day, and on holidays thrice, moving through the day from a bacon fry-up to a ham-sandwich to a steak with mushroom sauce. A meal without meat was considered incomplete, and vegetarianism was a scorned and alien disease that infected no-one among my family or friends. I was no supermarket meat-eater, hiding from the I write this review from a place of some bias. I was no supermarket meat-eater, hiding from the realities of the slaughterhouse. My father took me into faraway mountains and across deep seas where we wielded rifle, rod and spear in anticipation of the evening's cook-pot while never contemplating the lives ended at our hands. And yet, I became a Vego. A tofu-muncher. A salad-scarer. The scourge of the suburban B-B-Q. Seventeen years ago, when I first considered becoming a vegetarian, this Animal Liberation: The Definitive Classic of the Animal Movement, Peter Singer's Animal Liberation was the catalyst that pushed me over the line. As a result, this book holds a special place in my heart as a road-marker on the trail of my own personal philosophy. My bias aside, Animal Liberation is a powerful work by a renowned ethicist and a fantastic introduction to the ethical arguments for cessation or at least reduction of animal slaughter and animal experimentation. Singer is no mung-bean guzzling hippy blowhard. He is a serious currently working at Princeton and often controversial thinker and he brings rigour to his arguments against the way we treat animals. He argues strongly and effectively that to treat sentient beings more poorly than we do our fellow humans is simply speciesism a neologism that has stuck with me since I encountered it. I personally find his arguments convincing, and his conclusions sound. Of course, I'm a long time vegetarian, so depending on your views of how red-in-claw nature is, or where exactly you like to see yourself in the hierarchy Animal Liberation: The Definitive Classic of the Animal Movement the food chain, you may not get the mileage I do from a tankful of Singer. For the weak of stomach, be aware that some of what is discussed in Animal Liberation is pretty damn disturbing. Horrible animal experiments, cruel slaughter and cruelty in general all share the page here, but hey, using animal products and products tested on animals makes us all culpable for these abuses, so the least we can do is bear witness and acknowledge that we have caused great pain to our fellow earthlings. Anyway, if you're at all interested in this topic, or ethics in general, read this book. Animal Liberation was one of the first mainstream books on the ethics of our treatment of animals when it was published inand you've probably encountered its literary and ethical children already, but the old warhorse is still worth a look, and bears its heavy burdens well. Postscript: This book includes recipes, so if you're so fired up by Singer's arguments that you immediately swear off animal products you can flick to the back and make yourself a vego meal A seventies-style Animal Liberation: The Definitive Classic of the Animal Movement meal if you have an older edition. View all 10 comments. I was still in high school and it was one of the "buzz" books of my generation. I decided to re-read it with the new additions this year because my son is a life long vegetarian, he loves animals and I wondered does it still hold up? Would this younger generation still want to read it? The answer Animal Liberation: The Definitive Classic of the Animal Movement yes. The treatment of farm and lab animals are still as bad as they were forty years ago and maybe even worse. Pigs and chickens are shoved into pens that are too small for them as the large industrial farming complex needs to make more and more profits. They are kept inside and might never see the light of day their entire lives. Their level of suffering, as the author points out, is inhumane and exploitative and it is our "moral" right not to allow this harm to continue. I don't eat red meat or pork but I do eat fowl and fish. This book made me wonder, if I needed to change my ways and become a vegan, as author Peter Singer suggests. In my opinion, any book that makes you question your life style choices is a good one and his argument is intelligent and persuasive. If you want to educate yourself and maybe take on a new perspective, than this classic book will be for you. I gave it five stars because it deserves it for being so ahead of its time and bringing animals rights to the attention of people. The author's wish is that his book would change the world and that a vast amount of animal suffering can be avoided. View 2 comments. Feb 16, Annie rated it it was amazing Shelves: wishlistfood-politicsphilosophy. So this book. I love this book for what it did for bringing animal rights into the semi-mainstream. Singer was a proper philosopher, not just a kookie hippie. His importance cannot be overstated. I spend a lot of time reading about animal ethics, so nothing- neither the animal abuses recounted nor the philosophical arguments against speciesism- was new to me. Still, I feel remiss giving it les So this book. If a woman had written this, how would it have been received in the s? How would it be received now? Hands fucking down. Makes me ragey. Anyway, without Animal Liberation, it would be so difficult to talk about animal rights and be taken seriously, rather than labeled a fruitcake. I love it. Does that make sense? Jul 01, beggs rated it it was amazing Recommends it for: Everyone. Most people in the industrial world are far removed from how their food is produced and how their beauty products or drugs are tested and approved. This blinds many people to the true magnitude of the use of animals in sustaining or modern standard of living. Animal liberation strips off the blinders and exposes the realities of our Animal Liberation: The Definitive Classic of the Animal Movement of animal exploitation. Animal Liberation is an academic book on ethics but is also in-your-face and readable. I first read Animal Liberation when I worked in the fish store back in C'ville. One of our regular customers was a post-doc biologist at the university. Animal Liberation by Peter Singer

It is widely considered within the animal liberation movement to be the founding philosophical statement of its ideas. Singer himself rejected the use of the theoretical framework of rights when it comes to human and nonhuman animals. Following Jeremy BenthamSinger argued that the interests of animals should be considered because of their ability to experience suffering and that the idea of rights was not necessary in order to consider them. He popularized the term " speciesism " in the book, which had been Animal Liberation: The Definitive Classic of the Animal Movement by Richard D. Ryder to describe the exploitative treatment of animals. Singer's central argument is an expansion of the utilitarian idea that "the greatest good" is the only measure of good or ethical behavior. He argues that there is no reason not to apply this principle to other animals. Although Singer rejects 'rights' as a moral concept, his position is derived from utilitarian principles of minimizing suffering. In Animal LiberationSinger argues against what he calls speciesism : discrimination on the grounds that a being belongs to a certain species. He holds the interests of all beings capable of suffering to be worthy of equal consideration and that giving lesser consideration to beings based on their species is no more justified than discrimination based on skin color. He argues that animals rights should be based on their capacity to feel pain more than on their intelligence. In particular, he argues that while animals show lower intelligence than the average human, many severely intellectually challenged humans show equally diminished, if not lower, mental capacity and that some animals have displayed signs of intelligence for example, primates learning elements of American sign language and other symbolic languages sometimes on a par with that of human children. Therefore, intelligence does not provide a basis for giving nonhuman animals any less consideration than such intellectually challenged humans. He also condemns vivisection except where the benefit in terms of improved medical treatment, etc. Activist Ingrid Newkirk wrote of Animal Liberation"It forever changed the conversation about our treatment of animals. It made people—myself included—change what we ate, what we wore, and how we perceived animals. Singer has expressed regret that the book did not have more impact. The book has also received a wide range of philosophical challenges to his formulation of animal rights. In a lengthy debate in Slate Magazinepublished inRichard Posner wrote, among other things, that Singer failed to see the "radicalism of the ethical vision that powers [his] view on animals, an ethical vision that finds greater value in a healthy pig than in a profoundly intellectually challenged child, that commands inflicting a lesser pain on a human being to avert a greater pain to a dog, and that, provided only that a chimpanzee has 1 percent of the mental ability of a normal human being, would require the sacrifice of the human being to save chimpanzees. In addition, Martha Nussbaum has argued that the capability approach provides a more adequate foundation of justice than Utilitarianism can supply. Roger Scrutona prominent critic of animal rights and conservative political journalist, singled Animal Liberation for criticism. He wrote that Singer's works, including Animal Liberation"contain little or no philosophical argument. They derive their radical moral conclusions from a vacuous utilitarianism that counts the pain and pleasure of all living things as equally significant and that ignores just about everything that has been said in our philosophical tradition about the real distinction between persons and animals. There have been several editions of the book published over the years, each further chronicling the progress of the animal liberation movement. In an essay entitled "Animal Liberation: A Personal View", Singer describes the personal background that led to his adoption of the views he sets out in Animal Liberation. He writes of how he arrived in Oxford in Octoberand in had lunch with a fellow graduate student, Richard Keshen, who avoided meat. This led Singer to inquire as to why. Singer then read Ruth Harrison 's book, Animal Machinesas well as a paper by Roslind Godlovitch who would later co-edit Animals, Men and Moralswhich convinced him to become a vegetarian and to take animal suffering seriously as a philosophical issue. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. IAI TV. Retrieved 11 December Retrieved The New Statesman. Archived from the original on 26 August Retrieved 23 December Animal Liberation is one. Slate Magazine. Animal Rights. New York: Oxford University Press, Scruton Writings on an ethical life. London: Fourth Estate. Animal rights. Topics overviews, concepts, Animal Liberation: The Definitive Classic of the Animal Movement, cases. 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