Posted June 13, 2012 by Ryan Huling
This is it, folks—the single most important book you may ever read and the one that in many ways started it all.
Animal Liberation, written by influential Princeton University bioethicist Peter Singer, was first published in 1975 and is credited with introducing none other than PETA President Ingrid E. Newkirk to the idea of animal rights. Ingrid has said that Singer put into words what she had felt intuitively for a long time—that animals deserve to be recognized as individuals who have the same capacity to feel pain and suffer as we do. Indeed, in a very real way, were it not for this book, PETA (and, thus, this blog!) might not even exist.
Singer’s main argument is that one does not have to be a member of the human species in order to deserve protection from cruelty. Because all animals can suffer, it is only speciesism—the belief that others can be oppressed or abused simply for being of a different species from us—that draws a distinction between the family dog and a fish or allows people to ignore the level of intelligence that a pig and a human child have in common. Cruelty is cruelty, no matter who the victim is.
He illustrates some of the many examples of speciesism—most of which continue today—including factory farming and burning or torturing animals for experimentation. These are the practices that future generations will look back on and say, “How could we have allowed this to occur?” But if it weren’t for Singer’s book, this cruelty might not be on anyone’s radar at all.
Ready to kick your animal rights knowledge up a notch? Check out this book, and send your review to StreetTeam@peta2.com (and make sure that it’s your own—we check!) for 750 points.
peta2 Street Team Coordinator + lover of vegan food, cats, animal rights, Dawson's Creek, and Harry Potter.
Too long to explain here, it's long enough for a novel.
Father loves to farm, be self sustainable, loves to read, he's a antiques/vintage auctioneer, art student, and looks like mr. Rogers. My mother is a Montessori teacher and is amazing with children, all about local organic foods, loves gardening, cooking etc. my sister who is nine years older than me was into indie music and introduced me to all sorts of things at a young age. This all rubbed of on me and from that base I grew into similar things. I'm an INFJ
I'm tall, a geek, nacho - obsessed, I love sewing and Cath Kidston, also I'm vegetarian (wannabe vegan.)
Jersey girl now I'm all country.
I love animals about as much as rock, heavy metal, tea, and coffee. Hoping to make a difference and help animals through PETA!!!
Life On A Tour Bus
I am Angela. When I am not helping animals I am listening to music, reading, or playing video games. My spirit animal is a fox and I love nature. What else is there to know? Want to know anything about me, need advice or anything message me :)
Well let's just say life ain't always beautiful but it's a beautiful ride. I love all my pets and would do anything for them. I have one dog, two cats, a ferret and my babygirl shaymin,(the cutest hedgehog alive) I'm into all different kinds of music. I'm a singer myself and love art.
340 days ago
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Love this book
learnt about peter singer in rs but i dont like the fact he talks about eating eggs :L
342 days ago
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Random but- I read an article today on MSN economics saying beef prices are gonna skyrocket to an all time high because so many people are becoming veg. Apparently, there haven’t been this little cattle in america since 1952! They also said meat eating has peaked and is declining.