Analysis Of Animal Rights Theory

The ethical thought about animal has sprouted since ancient times.Ancient Greek philosophers represented by Aristotle believed that animals were just human tools.At the same time,Confucianism and Daoism in China gave animals a certain moral status and incorporated animals into the care of humans.In modern times,Western animal protection movements have emerged and the idea of animal protection has become more and more popular.However,Chinese thought about the protection of animals make little progress in modern and contemporary times.So,promoting enquiry on animal ethical thinking in Chinese society is a very necessary thing.My paper focuses on the thoughts of Peter Singer and Tom Regan,two representative figures of the animal right movement,analyzes their fundamental standpoints.Then,in terms of their fundamental standpoints,I reply briefly to the main refutes on the animal rights movement.In this way,I defend the fundamental standpoints of the animal rights movement:human beings have a moral duty to animals and animals should have some basic moral rights.Next,I made a preliminary thinking on the fundamental problem of animal rights theory.Finally,I analyzed different approaches for the social practice of the animal rights movement at home and abroad,and put forward some suggestions for the practice of animal protection in China.I believe that vegetarianism is the simplest and the most direct practice advocated by the animal rights movement.