Criticizes the common belief that we are entitled to exploit animals for our benefit because they are not as rational as people

Table of Contents:
Preface Acknowledgments Part I: The Moral (In)Significance of Reason 1. Why Should I Be Rational? "Rationality" and Its Alternatives * The Methodological Counterattack * The Moral of the Story 2. Where Reason Enters In--and Where It Doesn't Incidentally Good Actions * Ulterior Motives * Acting Out of Context * Moral Agents, Philosophers, and Judges * Summary and Conclusion 3. Being Rational and Acting Morally What "Rational" Refers To * Can Only Rational Beings Be Moral Agents? * Acting for the Right Reason * Acting on Principle and Acting Morally * The Free, the Rational, and the Moral * Everyday Freedom * Pursuing Ideals vs. the Value of Virtue 4. People and Persons Metaphysical vs. Moral Persons * The Humanist Principle * The Logico-linguistic Defense of Humanism * The Phenomenological Defense of Humanism * The Transcendental Defense of Humanism * The Consequential Defense of Humanism * Conclusion Part II: "Animal Rights"? 5. What Liberating Animals Is and Isn't About The Moral Sense of "Animal" * Applying the Rhetoric of Liberation to Animals * Applying the Concept of Equality to Animals * Applying the Rhetoric of Rights to Animals * Is Animal Liberation an Affront to Human Liberation? * Summary 6. Three Reasons for Liberating Animals Liberating Animals and Developing Moral Character * Liberating Animals and Making the World a Happier Place * Liberating Animals and Being Fair * Conclusion Part III: Answering Some Objections to Liberating Animals 7. Can Animals Have Interests? Language and Interests * "Having an Interest" * Language and Desire * Language and Belief * The Psychological (In)Significance of Grammar * Language and Truth * Language and Self-Consciousness * Conclusion * Reason and the Moral Significance of Interests * Being Rational and Having Interests * Having Interests and Moral Standing 8. Moral Community and Animal Rights The Reciprocity Requirement * The Agency Requirement * The Relations Requirement * The Humanist Requirement * Conclusion 9. The Misfortune of Death Why (Supposedly) Only Rational Beings Can Have a Right to Life * Having vs. Taking an Interest in Life * Having Interests and Having Rights * Having an Interest in Life and the Right to Life * Suffering a Loss and the Awareness of Loss * Summary and Conclusion 10. The Replacement Argument The (In)Significance of the Replacement Argument * Six Ways of Evaluating Moral Standing * Describing the Six Ways * Six Evaluations of the Replacement Argument * Total Population vs. Prior Existence Utilitarianism * Prior Existence Utilitarianism and Obligations to Future Generations * Summary Part IV: A Few Consequences 11. Vegetarianism The Simple Answer * Exploiting, Slaughtering, and Harvesting * Exploiting, Killing, and Scavenging * Starvation 12. Whither Animal Research? Can Animals Consent to Research'? * Should Research Be Done Only with Those Who Consent? * Are Humans a Superior Form of Life? * Should Superiors Exploit Their Inferiors? * Summary and Conclusion 13. Saving the Rabbit from the Fox The Variety of Absurdity * Ought Implies Can * "Avoidable" Suffering * Conclusion 14. Plants and Things Environmental Ethics and Inherent Value * Environmental Crisis and the (Supposed) Necessity of Inherent Value * The Variety of Goodness and the (Supposed) Necessity of Inherent Value * Conclusion * Environmental Ethics and Ecological Holism * The Biotic "Community" vs. Animal Liberation * The Arbitrariness of Total Holism * Environmental Ethics vs. Personal Preferences * Morality and the Affirmation of Life * Summary * The Good of Nonsentient Things * The Environmental Ethics of Animal Liberation Notes Bibliography Index