However, a deeper shift occurred in the 1970s. Philosopher Peter Singer published Animal Liberation (1975), arguing for : The capacity to suffer—not intelligence or language—is the baseline for moral consideration. Shortly after, Tom Regan countered with The Case for Animal Rights (1983), arguing that animals are "subjects-of-a-life" with inherent value, regardless of their utility to others. Part II: The Animal Welfare Paradigm – Managing Use, Reducing Suffering Core Philosophy: It is morally acceptable to use animals for human purposes (food, research, clothing, entertainment), provided we minimize their pain and distress.
The question is not whether animal rights will become law—that is almost inevitable as our moral epistemology expands. The question is how much suffering will occur between now and then. However, a deeper shift occurred in the 1970s
In the modern era, the relationship between humans and non-human animals is undergoing a profound ethical reckoning. From the factory farms that produce our burgers to the laboratories that test our cosmetics, from the zoos that entertain our children to the wild spaces we encroach upon daily, the question is no longer if animals matter, but how much and why . Part II: The Animal Welfare Paradigm – Managing