- Leonardo Da Vinci

Quick Overview

The concept of animal rights is not particularly new - in fact, hundreds of years ago, bright philosophers and natural scientists came up with the notion that animals do have rights. Their basic assumption was that there is no ethically and logically valid reason to restrict fundamental rights - most of all, the rights to life and freedom - to human beings.

In the last few decades, the number of supporters of animal rights has grown significantly. However, the basic ideas behind it are still far from being common knowledge. This SIG is intended to give an overview of the history and philosophy of animal rights as well as its implications and consequences. It will be held in the form of a (short) lecture with - preferrably - lots of time for discussion and questions.

Topics of the SIG

• A brief history of the animal rights movement
• What is the concept of "Animal Rights" all about? Is it the same as "Animal Welfare"?
• Do animals have rights? And if yes, which rights, and why?
• The implications and consequences of animal rights - what the animal rights movement is trying to achieve. Examples are given for a few major fields of action (e.g. hunting and trapping, the fur industry, the meat industry, etc.)
• From an AR point of view: Good Organizations vs. Bad Organizations...
• Questions and Discussion; Furries and Animal Rights

/ Shadowfox