Philosophy
Animal Rights and the Moral Consideration of Non-Humans
Quick fact
The modern animal rights movement gained legal traction in 1978 when a whale named Moby won a case under the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act, but philosophical arguments date back to ancient Greek and Indian thought.
Why this is interesting
Most of us would never harm a cat or dog, yet we accept the mass slaughter of pigs, cows, and chickens for food. What makes the difference? Is it just species membership, or is there a deeper moral principle at stake?