Summary Of Jeremy Rifkin A Change Of Heart About Animals

Jeremy Rifkin is an American writer, public speaker, and activist who wrote a meaningfully dense article for the Los Angeles Times titled "A Change Of Heart About Animals." His article defends animal rights and disputes many myths regarding animals. Rifkin argues that animals do have a sense of individualism, they experience emotions, they learn from past experiences, and that “They are more like us than we imagined” (). After reading the article, I can personally say that I agree with Rifkin, albeit my only problem is drawing the line between advocating for animals rights and extremism.

Animal rights are rights given to animals that allow them to live a life without ill-treatment and corporate exploitation. PETA founder Ingrid Newkirk has said, “When it comes to pain, love, joy, loneliness, and fear, a rat is a pig is a dog is a boy. Each one values his or her life and fights the knife”(). I agree that animals should have compassion shown towards them, as they have a life worth living. At the same time, I don't believe that an animal's
Ariel Garlow, a student of Philosophy at McMaster University, states in her article “A Fox Is a Cow Is a Cat: Why We Treat Animals Differently” a few problems that I find in the vegan mindset. Garlow states that “All animals – human, fox, cat, elephant, and more – have unique traits that shape who we are. But if we search hard enough, we find no specific trait in any animal that justifies the exploitation of their species” (). I don’t agree with animals exploitation as their nature should not be stripped away for commercial purposes. Then again if it came to the lives of human to the lives of animals, I am going to strive for us. Victoria Braithwaite, in Hooked On A Myth, poses a similar statement. Braithwaite states that although animals should have right, as they suffer, “where should we draw the line?”