Por uma ética antiespecista: o lugar dos animais não humanos na filosofia moral de Tom Regan

Abstract

This work is intended to show that the debate concerning animal rights is philosophically relevant. It points out the fact that animal issues are related to human beings as well. Therefore, this dissertation is an effort to demonstrate that it is wrong to attribute only to human beings the status of holders of moral rights and that it is necessary to conceive an ethical framework grounded on a non-anthropocentric view. Particular attention is devoted here to the contribution of Tom Reagan who asserts animals are subjects of life and possess what is called inherent value, i.e., animals’ lives are not means to accomplish ends external to themselves. These affirmations are grounded on scientific studies of animal consciousness and on ethology. Peter Singer’s defense of the well-being of animals based on the fact that they are sentient beings will be also investigated. The expression rights of animals is not used in the context of this demarche because it relates to the respect humans beings should have to non-human animals without the recognition of them as holders of specific moral rights. The expression animal rights is purported to corroborate the notion that such rights are a reality to be accepted regardless the will of human beings.