If welfare is a ladder, animal rights is a wall. The rights view, most famously articulated by philosopher Tom Regan (The Case for Animal Rights, 1983) and popularized by Peter Singer (Animal Liberation, 1975), argues that animals are not ours to use at all.
By making conscious choices—whether in the products we buy, the food we eat, or the laws we support—we contribute to a culture that values life in all its forms. If welfare is a ladder, animal rights is a wall
As a society, we can respect both perspectives by: As a society, we can respect both perspectives
To navigate this topic, we must define the two main schools of thought. However, many argue that animal testing is unnecessary
Animal testing is another area where animal welfare and rights are often compromised. Animal testing is used to develop new products, such as cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, and to test the safety of existing products. However, many argue that animal testing is unnecessary and that alternative methods, such as in vitro testing and computer simulations, are available.
Legislation varies significantly by region, but several international frameworks and trends are currently shaping the field:
