Product Description

This book distinguishes itself from much of the polemical literature on these issues by offering the most judicious and well-balanced account yet available of animals’ moral standing, and related questions concerning their minds and welfare. Transcending jejune debates focused on utilitarianism versus rights, the book offers a fresh methodological approach with specific and constructive conclusions about our treatment of animals. David DeGrazia provides the most thorough discussion yet of whether equal consideration should be extended to animals’ interests, and examines the issues of animal minds and animal well-being with an unparalleled combination of philosophical rigor and empirical documentation. His book is an important contribution to the field of animal ethics and will be read with special interest by all philosophers teaching such courses, as well as biologists, those professionally involved with animals, and general readers concerned about animal welfare.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #60094 in Books
• Published on: 1996-07-13
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 316 pages

Review
"David DeGrazia has explored some very complex issues in ethics and philosophy of mind concerning the mental lives, well-being, and moral status of non-human animals. The results show both impressive philosophical sophistication and an excellent command of the empirical literature. Taking Animals Seriously ranks with the very best work done by philosophers on the issue of our treatment of animals." Wayne Sumner, University of Toronto

"David DeGrazia is one of the most promising young scholars in the field of biomedical ethics. His work on animal welfare and the foundations of the morality of our treatment of animals is brilliant. It is a balanced, thoughtful, provocative analysis advancing the discussion in a way that is must reading for both animal activists and those who use animals for food, research, or sport. Anyone who reads this book will forever after have their thinking changed about the moral status of animals." Robert Veatch, Director, Kennedy Institute of Ethics, Georgetown University

"The appropriate moral status of animals continues to pose challenges for both the policy makers and philosophers alike. David DeGrazia is one of the best and brightest of the current generation of philosophers to tackle this question, as he clearly demonstrates in this careful and lucid philosophical analysis of the issues and arguments. All those who are concerned about these issues would benefit greatly from reading this book." Andrew N. Rowan, Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine

"...the book is definitely woth the time and effort to read if you are interested in the ethical foundation of the contemporary animal rights movement." Richard C. Simmonds, M.D., ASLAP Newsletter

"...this book will be helpful to all of those concerned with the well-being of all sentient beings." Animals' Agenda

Customer Reviews

Honest comprehensive critique, helpful in pub brawls
I read this book while studying philosophy at Cambridge.It has a fluent and engaging analytical style, without the usual implicitly emotional basis of other offerings. However, having been exposed to the graphic and uncompromising stupidity of the compassionate (meat eating) vets and moral ethics crew in college ,i realised a very important point concerning this book.Moral precepts are preceded by established behaviour.Therefore, in most, but not all cases, a rationalisation will be found to justify the behaviour and not vice-versa.This leaves any aspiring Veggy Pankhurst more informed but still unable to establish a coherent argument that can withstand the impregnability of idiology. Still,altogether an informative and necessarily challenging set of points that are a well needed addition to veggy ethics.

Breaks down and clarifies the arguments for and against animal morality superbly
Too many books on the area of animal morality require a pickaxe in order to find the gold of the arguments hidden far beneath the ramblings of bias, pointless tangents and endless case examples. On the other hand, other books and articles on the subject often presume sound knowledge of the basic arguments for and against animal morality and are thus difficult to make sense of. This book was an excellent aid in providing clearly and logically, the basic arguments every philosopher and animal rights enthusiast needs to know. The book can be read cover to cover as a survey by DeGrazia, or it can be used to pinpoint and pick out certain aspects and arguments thanks to DeGrazia's straightforward layout. It is certainly an excellent starting point for anyone getting to grips with the nitty-gritty of animal morality. DeGrazia makes reference to a wide range of very useful landmark books and articles which are perfect for following on from everything the book covers. This book has been an invaluable aid to my studies in this fascinating subject