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Title: Animal Liberation by Peter Singer ISBN: 0-06-001157-2 Publisher: Ecco Pub. Date: 18 December, 2001 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.17 (59 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: Consistently and sensibly argued.
Comment: It's quite stunning to see how those who (be)rated this book negatively fail to notice the manifest purport of Singer's book, which is not to be an advocacy of animal "rights" -for arguing the existence of "rights", also with regard to humans, in a non-juridical sense seems in itself impossible- but of moral duties which we are obliged to regard towards non-humans. A crucial distinction, for if one reflects on the reason wherefore one holds it to be immoral to harm one's fellow humans, it is quite unlikely one would find that reason to be the "right" of his fellow humans not to be harmed, nor -as one reviewer here seemed to contend, and which I felt was quite ludicrous- the humanity per se of one's fellow humans. Much more probable is that one would find the reason to be this, that one knows that one's fellow humans don't take a liking towards physical or mental pain, and that therefore one abstains from inducing that pain into one's fellow humans. It hardly seems odd -as Singer does- to on that account consider the morality of acts in the light of their total effect on the well-being of humans or non-humans.
By concentrating on the impossibility to argue for animal "rights", some reviewers here concluded that on account of their apparent absence (for animals are not "moral agents") there exist no duties towards animals, neglecting thereby the autonomous existence of moral duties, much in the sense as Singer proposed. Insofar such reviewers would argue that beings who cannot entertain moral reflections can themselves not be the object of our moral reflections, they miss the point that the animals' inability to cogitate morality has no bearing on their capability to suffer or experience joy: in that quality, where the morality of acts (as said) should be measured by their effect in sum on the "general" well-being, we are obliged to include them into our sphere of ethic norms.
Abovementioned reviewers also fail to take note, by stating that humans DO have moral "rights", that it is equally unfeasible to logically substruct and found such "rights". At best one might say that, where the one has a duty (which CAN be adstrued) the other MUST have a "right". Yet the dependence of this "right" upon the duty is apparent. The independent non-juridical moral "right" cannot -be it of humans or not- be evidenced (at least has not: no source for such "rights", except corresponding duties, has been supplied), wherefore those who uphold the believe that, because animals have no moral "rights" they equally lack moral significance, those people should realise that such reasoning also entails the moral insignificance of humans.
In conclusion then, Singer is, so it seems, on the right track in his book. His dissentors seem to, by and large, either misinterpret his intentions or, correctly interpreting them, nonetheless fail to undermine the validity of his statements and thus also misinterpret, not in that case the tenor of the statements, but their susceptibility to refutation... Singer then rightly said that his arguments have not yet been refuted, and indeed, I add, seem irrefutable.
Rating: 3
Summary: A Philosophy Book That's Light on Actual Philsophy
Comment: As an animal rights advocate for about 8 years, I figured that it was finally time to read "Animal Liberation", hailed as the "Bible" of the modern animal rights movement. Altogether, the book was somewhat disappointing - it's a philosophy book without much philosophical discussion!
Singer does an excellent job of detailing the evils and follies of animal experimentation and animal agriculture. Though the first edition was released before I was even born (in 1978), he does thoroughly update the information for the newest edition (however, it was revised way back in '91, so the information is once again out of date). That's really about all "Animal Liberation" is useful for, though - gathering evidence and formulating arguments against the two largest forms of animal exploitation. As a philosophy book, "Animal Liberation" fails miserably.
I've learned about Singer's philosophy by reading works by other AR philosophers (most notably, Gary Francione), so I had some background before picking up "AL". Good thing, because Singer only devotes one chapter (out of six) to his animal liberation philosophy. He never really elaborates on or fully explains his principles, leaving the reader to fill in the gaps. After reading "AL", I knew little more about Singer's beliefs than I did before picking it up. Furthermore, while Singer does rely on commonsensical logic, he never makes use of more advanced logic (as most philosophers do). "AL" is a philosophy book, written by a philosopher, but you'd never know this just by reading it!
"AL" is a decent introduction to factory farming and vivisection, but it flounders at its primary task - presenting a comprehensive AR philosophy. What's especially ironic is that, though he's hailed as the godfather of the AR movement, Singer doesn't even endorse animal rights per se - rather, he's a proponent of a more ethical approach to animals. Also of note is the fact that Singer is a defender of infanticide and bestiality - which (in my opinion) does not make him the best representative of the AR movement.
On a positive note, though, "AL" is a very easy read, since there's no cumbersome philosophy to slow the reader down! I would recommend that all animal rights advocates read "AL", if only because it's one of the most popular and commonly cited animal rights philosophy books. However, I would also urge anyone who's interested in the humane and ethical treatment of animals to also read works by Gary Francione and Tom Regan.
Rating: 2
Summary: Flawed Book From a Flawed Thinker
Comment: Peter Singer tries and, as usual, fails. His grasp of ethics is frighteningly shaky for a man whose field is ethics. Singer, for example, trumpets the importance of "animal liberation" at the same time he defends in other works the morality of infanticide and bestiality. Singer's entire philosophical anthropology is flawed, inherently contradictory, and, ultimately, leads to grotesqueries (such as his aforementioned support for infanticide and defense of bestiality). Skip this book and pick up _Dominion_ by Matthew Scully instead.
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Title: The Case for Animal Rights by Tom Regan ISBN: 0520054601 Publisher: University of California Press Pub. Date: April, 1985 List Price(USD): $21.95 |
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Title: Dominion: The Power of Man, the Suffering of Animals, and the Call to Mercy by Matthew Scully ISBN: 0312261470 Publisher: St. Martin's Press Pub. Date: 15 October, 2002 List Price(USD): $27.95 |
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Title: One World: The Ethics of Globalization by Peter Singer ISBN: 0300096860 Publisher: Yale Univ Pr Pub. Date: 01 October, 2002 List Price(USD): $21.95 |
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Title: Writings on an Ethical Life by Peter Singer ISBN: 0060007443 Publisher: Ecco Pub. Date: 18 September, 2001 List Price(USD): $15.00 |
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Title: Drawing the Line: Science and the Case for Animal Rights by Steven M. Wise ISBN: 0738203408 Publisher: Perseus Publishing Pub. Date: 30 April, 2002 List Price(USD): $26.00 |
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