Animal Rights: Comparing the Views of Hasselstrom and Regan
Anna Katherine Giddens
Laura Vernon
EN 1103-39
24 October 2011
Animal Rights: Comparing the Views of Hasselstrom and Regan Imagine an animal’s feeling of panic and fear as it is about to be killed by a hunter or the isolation experienced as an animal sits in a laboratory, separated from its family and natural habitat, waiting to be harmed by harsh testing methods. Imagine the frightened state of a mother or father watching their innocent baby being captured. After considering the brutality towards animals in these scenarios, take into consideration the health benefits humans receive from different parts of these animals. Imagine health risks avoided through testing on animals first instead of on humans. Does human benefit justify the harm and killing of animals? Linda Hasselstrom’s essay “The Cow Versus The Animal Rights Activist” and Tom Regan’s “Animal Rights, Human Wrongs” argue this question through analysis of the reason for killing animals, the method in which they are killed, and the morality of the killing of animals. Although both authors have different opinions on the issue, they each present fitting arguments to represent each of their views. Hasselstrom, a cattle rancher, believes that animals can be killed to benefit human life and still be cared for with love and passion. Regan, on the other hand, a professor and pioneer of the academic movement for animal rights, believes that the harm of animals for any purpose is considered unjust. Hasselstrom and Regan both make valid points in their arguments by discussing the reason behind the killing of animals. In “The Cow Versus The Animal Rights Activist,” Hasselstrom tells us that the death of cattle benefits human life, and that human life is more important to protect than the life of animals. He argues, against misinformed antibeef activists, that the red meat from cows is healthy for humans. Other parts of the cow can also be used such as the fat and the hide. Although Hasselstrom provides
Laura Vernon
EN 1103-39
24 October 2011
Animal Rights: Comparing the Views of Hasselstrom and Regan Imagine an animal’s feeling of panic and fear as it is about to be killed by a hunter or the isolation experienced as an animal sits in a laboratory, separated from its family and natural habitat, waiting to be harmed by harsh testing methods. Imagine the frightened state of a mother or father watching their innocent baby being captured. After considering the brutality towards animals in these scenarios, take into consideration the health benefits humans receive from different parts of these animals. Imagine health risks avoided through testing on animals first instead of on humans. Does human benefit justify the harm and killing of animals? Linda Hasselstrom’s essay “The Cow Versus The Animal Rights Activist” and Tom Regan’s “Animal Rights, Human Wrongs” argue this question through analysis of the reason for killing animals, the method in which they are killed, and the morality of the killing of animals. Although both authors have different opinions on the issue, they each present fitting arguments to represent each of their views. Hasselstrom, a cattle rancher, believes that animals can be killed to benefit human life and still be cared for with love and passion. Regan, on the other hand, a professor and pioneer of the academic movement for animal rights, believes that the harm of animals for any purpose is considered unjust. Hasselstrom and Regan both make valid points in their arguments by discussing the reason behind the killing of animals. In “The Cow Versus The Animal Rights Activist,” Hasselstrom tells us that the death of cattle benefits human life, and that human life is more important to protect than the life of animals. He argues, against misinformed antibeef activists, that the red meat from cows is healthy for humans. Other parts of the cow can also be used such as the fat and the hide. Although Hasselstrom provides
Cited: Hasselstrom, Linda. "The Cow Versus The Animal Rights Activist." Forming a Critical Perspective. Boston, MA: Pearson Learning Solutions, 2010. 327-34. Print. Regan, Tom. "Animal Rights, Human Wrongs." Forming a Critical Perspective. Boston, MA: Pearson Learning Solutions, 2010. 336-40. Print.