Selected Book
Animal Liberation
- Paperback
- Author: Peter Singer
- Publisher: Harper Perennial
- Release Date: December 2001
- ISBN-10: 0060011572
- ISBN-13: 9780060011574
- List Price: $14.95
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Summaries and Customer Reviews provided by Amazon
SummaryThe Book That Started A Revolution Since its original publication in 1975, this groundbreaking work has awakened millions of concerned men and women to the shocking abuse of animals everywhere -- inspiring a worldwide movement to eliminate much of the cruel and unnecessary laboratory animal experimentation of years past. In this newly revised and expanded edition, author Peter Singer exposes the chilling realities of today's "factory forms" and product-testing procedures -- offering sound, humane solutions to what has become a profound environmental and social as well as moral issue. An important and persuasive appeal to conscience, fairness, decency and justice, Animal Liberation is essential reading for the supporter and the skeptic alike. |
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
An eye opener that anyone unaware of what is happening to animals should read
Rating: 
I learned so much from Animal Liberation. It was an eye opener in many aspects. I had read about animal farming, but didn't know much about lab testing. Peter Singer exposes humans using animals for our benefits. Animals are a convenience for our health - through animal testing - or for our food consumption. He says that animal experimentation will only be ended when a series of piecemeal reforms have reduced its importance, and that our immediate task is to work for these partial goals, which can be milestones to the elimination of all exploitation of animals. By this, Singer emphasizes that in order to reach those goals, we first need to eliminate speciesism. But he later also says that "cruelty is acknowledged only where profitability ceases". So what needs to be done is not only to shift people away from speciesism but also to educate them about other forms of profit absent of utilitarianism. Shifting animal farmers towards sustainable agriculture, moving lab testing towards a research without animals, etc...
Peter Singer believes that we are inconsistent to oppose sexism and racism, but not speciesism, and that we can't agree with the former, without opposing speciesism. But he also writes at the beginning of his book, that fifteen years after his first version came out, he hasn't really seen much improvement in animal liberation. It took longer than fifteen years to abolish slavery in parts of the world, and racism is still very much there in many places. Couldn't that be the proof that non-animal humans are not yet ready to accept animals as their equals? There is a lack of compassion and too much detachment with animals. Raising people's compassion and reconnecting with wildlife and nature would be one if the first steps towards the elimination of speciesism.
A must read for anyone who has no clue about what is happening to animals.
a rational argument in favor of an ethical perspective on non-human animals
Rating:
This book, more than any other shook the foundation of my perspective on animal suffering and enlightened me to the suffering we all cause to non-human animals every day. Singer shows the reader what harm is being done and that doing no harm is not simply a matter of continuing the comfortable pattern of thoughts and behaviors that are the majority in human societies.
Singer's rational and utilitarian approach is the perfect antidote to both irrational and reactionary arguments against the validation of this suffering and also the stereotype of vegans and those in favor of animal rights as overly sentimental animal lovers. His writing is precise, his examples measured and his arguments never pedantic or repetitive.
Singer takes utilitarian ethical theory to its conclusions in thought and practice. He defines his premises well and then proceeds logically and unswervingly to all ramifications of these premises. While many have attacked the radical ethical ideas Singer puts forth far fewer have anything more substantial than intuitive resistance to his stance. Animal abolitionists also criticize this book saying that it and Singer do not go far enough. While there may be disagreements about the goals of working towards ending the suffering of animals there can be no doubt that "Animal Liberation" has been incredibly influential in raising the consciousness of the importance of these goals.
the most useful, convincing, and enjoyable introduction to this topic
Rating:
This is the only book I have ever rated five stars.
Animal Liberation sparked a worldwide movement since the first edition's publication in 1975. Had this book not been published, you probably would never have heard of animal rights.
It presents a well-argued, concise overview of each issue:
In chapter 1, Singer argues that the most basic principles of ethics that we apply to humans - against causing pain and suffering for trivial reasons - apply to members of other species precisely because they are capable of experiencing pain and suffering as intensely as members of our own species. He claims that our attitude of assuming that the suffering of other species cannot be taken seriously is therefore a form of prejudice, called "speciesism" by analogy with racism and sexism.
Chapters 2 and 3 expose the mind-boggling cruelty we carry out on other species for experimentation and food, and (convincingly, I think) compare these practices, and our attitudes towards them, with the similar treatment of, and attitudes towards, groups of humans in what we now consider the darkest periods of human history.
In chapter 4, Singer amasses evidence in support of adopting a vegetarian diet, which has, directly and indirectly, convinced millions.
Chapter 5 undermines the attitudes towards other animals that most of us grew up with by revealing their historical origins. Rather than viewing our conception of human superiority as a deep, inarticulable, but somehow respectable intuition, Singer points out that it is uniquely Western, and closely correlates historically with other prejudiced attitudes.
In chapter 6, Singer straightforwardly responds to all of the common objections to his positions, including those raised against the first edition, highlights the successes of the movement since the first edition, and inspires us all to join the animal rights movement.
Animal Liberation is a classic, a must-read for anyone who stands for or against animal rights, and even those interested in philosophy or politics more generally. I should point out, though, that it has not been updated since 1990, so the latest advances in animal rights aren't described. Also, if you don't like prefaces, skip the two more recent ones if you wish, but don't miss the original "Preface to the 1975 Edition." It's brilliant and historic.
If you are at all concerned with basic questions of justice, of how we ought to live, you cannot afford to pass up this book.
Enjoy!
The fruits of atheism
Rating:
Singer would do well to read the Declaration of Independence, written by men far more ethical and wise than he:
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
This simple yet profound statement cuts directly to the heart of the so-called animal "rights" debate and shines a glaring spotlight on the moral and ethical bankruptcy of those who equate animals with people.
Simply put, they do not believe in the Judeo-Christian God. Whether such a god exists is beside the point. The ethical nihilism that is the natural result of atheism leads irrevocably to acceptance of the position that animals and people are equally deserving of consideration and freedom. After all, they would say, all living things are the accidental by-product of a mindless system of natural law that did not have us in mind and cares nothing for us. If you accept that premise, it's obvious that animals and humans deserve the same rights, if they deserve any at all.
For those of us who believe in a God who created Man in His image, the animal rights argument rings hollow from the start. This stance must make the animal rightist howl with indignation as it appeals to an objective moral authority above and beyond that of any human mind, specifically Singer's.
Revolutionary book
Rating:
This book is like an enlightment.Peter singer managed to dissecate the speciesist assumption that animals dont count on the ethics equation.
The book ranges from the explanation of the argument for animal rigths in a remarkable way, it traces the philosophical background of speciesism in history and it also show us examples of the consequences of our speciesism, factory farming, animal experimentation etc...
Its a must have to everyone that wants a better society for all, animals included.
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