Humanising Animals: Civilising People

Humans intentionally inflict enormous amounts of pain on billions of animals each year. The gap that exists between our shared community sentiment towards animals and our treatment of them is one of the most striking and important social paradoxes of our time.

Why is it that the current generation causes more suffering to animals than at any point in history? Humanising Animals: Civilising People explores this paradox. It examines how it is that nearly all people, morally and emotionally, deplore animal suffering, yet so much animal suffering continues to occur.

This book aims to bridge the gap that exists between reality and the ethics of human-caused animal suffering. It provides solutions to what we can each do to improve the plight of animals, so that our treatment of animals does not continue to shame us in the eyes of future generations.

This book begins by examining and evaluating the moral standing of animals, as well as wideranging reasons for animal suffering, including market and commercial imperatives, and cultural and traditional practices. Laws that regulate animal experimentation, intensive animal farming and a range of recreational activities are also critically evaluated.

Perhaps most importantly, this book facilitates a deeper understanding of the necessity of social and legal law reform within this area, and contains interesting and thorough conclusions that challenge the traditional approaches to animal rights and protection. Humanising Animals: Civilising People is an informative and compelling book for all people interested in current and important social causes. It is an essential resource for law and philosophy students, legal professionals, government agencies and animal welfare organisations alike.

• The arguments for and against the moral standing of animals
• The capacity of animals to suffer and feel pain
  Specific practices that infringe the rights of animals, including intensive farming, animal experimentation and a range of recreational activities
• Reasons for animal suffering in society laws that regulate animal practices in Australia
• Current legal and social shortcomings, and proposed social and legal reforms to address current causes of animal suffering.