Animals, Ethics and Us

Book excerpt: Everyone has a view about animal ethics. Each of us, for example, has an opinion about whether we should eat meat, whether animals should be used for scientific research, or whether the use of animals in sport is acceptable. But very few of us stop to wonder about the basis of our views, or to rationalize them. In this book, Madeleine Campbell aims to enable us to do so, by addressing a series of questions, such as: when does animal use become abuse; why do we treat some animals differently from others; are there some things which we should never do to animals; and just because we can, should we? Drawing on her experience as a veterinarian, a researcher, and more, the author takes ethical argument beyond academia and applies it to the question which currently dominates societal debate about human-animal interactions: what (if anything) is a reasonable use of an animal? Animals, Ethics, and Us offers a stripped back, balanced and moderate perspective, based on logical argument, philosophical principles, and sound science. It is a thought-provoking read aimed at a broad readership, including informed owners and animal enthusiasts, as well as useful a primer for students of animal ethics, welfare, and veterinary medicine.