Philosophy
Animal Ethics and the Extension of Moral Considerability
Quick fact
The philosopher Jeremy Bentham argued in 1789 that the key question is not 'Can they reason?' or 'Can they talk?' but 'Can they suffer?'—a criterion that would extend moral considerability to all sentient animals.
Why this is interesting
You probably don't kick a dog for no reason. But have you ever wondered why—what exactly gives that dog a moral claim on you?