In 1971, a group of six graduate students from Oxford University led what may have been the first protest for animal rights, emphasizing the moral imperative of treating animals with respect. It was a slow-moving revolution, but eventually, Australian philosopher Peter Singer wrote a groundbreaking book entitled “Animal Liberation” in 1975, which initially faced mockery for its perceived overreach. However, Singer’s arguments ultimately sparked significant change, not just in public opinion, but also in legislation. Today, at least nine states in the US, as well as the European Union, have outlawed the use of veal crates, hen cages, and tight stalls for sows. Major American supermarket chains, as well as McDonald’s, have pledged to sell only cage-free eggs by 2026.
Although significant strides have been made over the last few decades, there is still much more that needs to be done. Agribusiness has successfully produced cheap protein while ensuring that the cruelty inherent in factory farming remains invisible to the public. Despite the fact that individual animal abuse is a crime, systematic animal abuse is a business model that goes unpunished. Poultry have been bred in a way that causes significant pain and discomfort to them, all so that they can grow quickly and produce valuable breast meat. Animals have been reduced to mere commodities in order to maximize profits.
While Singer’s book represents a major turning point in animal welfare, the central question remains: How should we ethically interact with our fellow earthly creatures? It is a complex issue, and the answer is not always clear-cut. For instance, is it acceptable to eat humanely raised farm animals, but not factory-farmed ones? Is it alright to eat shellfish, even though their ability to suffer is uncertain? As philosopher Jeremy Bentham once said, “The question is not, can they reason, nor can they talk, but can they suffer?” The way in which people are struggling with these questions demonstrates a form of moral progress and affirms the power of ideas.
As John Maynard Keynes once noted, “The ideas of economists and political philosophers, both when they are right and when they are wrong, are more powerful than is commonly understood,” and Singer’s book provides ample evidence of that power. It’s a force that has transformed the world we live in, one that values compassion towards not just our fellow humans, but also our fellow creatures.
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