Animal Rights & Human Morality [Paperback]

Bernard E. Rollin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1992

It's been more than two decades since the first edition of this landmark book garnered public accolades for its sensitive yet honest and forthright approach to the many disquieting questions surrounding the emotional debate over animal rights. Is moral concern something owed by human beings only to human beings? Drawing upon his philosophical expertise, his extensive experience of working with animal issues all over the world, and his knowledge of biological science, Bernard E Rollin - now widely recognised as the father of veterinary ethics - develops a compelling analysis of animal rights as it is emerging in society.The result is a sound basis for rational discussion and social policy development in this area of rapidly growing concern. He believes that society must elevate the moral status of animals and protect their rights as determined by their natures. His public speaking and published works have contributed to passage of major federal legislation designed to increase the well-being of laboratory animals. This new Third Edition is greatly expanded and includes a new chapter on animal agriculture, plus additional discussions of animal law, companion animal issues, genetic engineering, animal pain, animal research, and many other topics.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Bernard E. Rollin (Fort Collins, CO) is University Distinguished Professor, Professor of Philosophy, Professor of Biomedical Sciences, Professor of Animal Sciences, and University Bioethicist at Colorado State University. He is the author of fourteen books and over three hundred articles and is the principal architect of 1985 federal legislation dealing with the welfare of experimental animals. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 248 pages
• Publisher: Prometheus Books; Revised edition (September 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0879757892
• ISBN-13: 978-0879757892
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #808,486 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A thinking persons Animal rights book, November 11, 2002

By 

"pjfromsf" (San Francisco, ca United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Animal Rights & Human Morality (Paperback)

I almost didn't buy this book because I was put off by it's cover. It just looked outdated.
But I own just about everything written about animal rights so I picked it up to add to my library.
It has turned out to be one of my favorite books because it's beautifully written with excellent logic.
If you have ever had difficulty explaining your position on an animal rights issue, to a non-animal person, read this book.
And then read it again.
A perfect blend of logic, ethics and moral behavior.

28 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Believer in animal rights, February 22, 2000

By 

N.Tarrant (Austin, TX United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Animal Rights & Human Morality (Paperback)

I purchased B.Rollin's book to help me write an animal rights paper for my Business Law class. I found myself totally engrossed in the book. It was wonderfully written, and had so much information that writing my paper was a breeze. But I recommend this book for anyone who is an animal lover and disagrees with product testing on animals. It will definately open your eyes.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Unique Approach to an Emotional Problem, April 24, 2009

By 

Mick McAllister - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Animal Rights & Human Morality (Paperback)

Rollin's book is an invaluable aid to the animal rights or animal welfare advocate because he approaches the issues with the dispassionate rationality that scientists drape around their attitudes, seizing the "intellectual high ground" from teary-eyed bunny huggers. Rollin is no bunny hugger, and his critique of the inconsistencies and contradictions in the utilitarian and behaviorist views of our relationship with the other animals is crisp, logical, and devastating.

As he makes clear, loathing for the inhumane may make us feel good, but it doesn't go far in changing things. The book is dry going, as Rollin moves from John Rawls to Jeremy Bentham, with a substantial portion of the text devoted to specific failings of the Animal Welfare Act and a detailed examination of the principles of animal testing. Like a visit to the dentist or an afternoon with the vacuum, it's not necessarily much fun. You won't find a lot of heartwarming stories about sensitive elephants here -- not that those are bad things.

What you will find is a legislative agenda, an outline for community action, and an arsenal of reasoned arguments to counter the exploiters of animals. It would be nice to think that we can turn the food industry technicians and scientific researchers with a question as simple as, "Would you do it to your dog?" For many of them, that may be enough. It's the rest for whom Rollin offers us strategies. Social ethics are murky, in that we may "know" what's right, but we can't explain what we know or how to those that don't get it. Read Rollin, and the explanations will be clear.