Tom Regan

This shocking expose dispels the negative image of animal rights advocates portrayed by the media, unmasks the fraudulent rhetoric of human treatment favored by animal exploiters, and explain why exisiting laws function to legitimize institutional cruelty.

Examines the philosophical aspects of the treatment of animals and argues that animals have a basic moral right to respectful treatment

Along with Peter Singer, Tom Regan (philosophy, North Carolina State U.) is co-premier of animal rights philosophy, a reputation established with The Case for Animal Rights (1985). This volume of shorter pieces reflects Regan's thinking over the past decade. Besides chapters on the meaning and repercussions of animal rights and animal liberation, two chapters address being an employee of an organization that experiments or uses animals (Regan's employer, he says, yearly kills thousands of animals). Two other chapters compare animal rights to, on the one hand, the causes for gay and lesbian rights, and on the other, the rights of African/American slaves. Regan's central thesis can be summed up as anti-utilitarian and Kantian, and is opposed to those (like Singer) wanting animal liberation without necessarily advocating rights. Regan argues that because non-human animals are similar to humans (both, for example, believe, remember, intend, and experience fear, anger, and loneliness), the two groups have a "basic moral right to respectful treatment." Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Prefaciado por Jeffrey Masson Escrita pelo líder filosófico dos Direitos Animais, Tom Regan, a exposição chocante da exploração animal dá um contributo essencial, com um impacto significativo, à história da Defesa dos Direitos Animais. Definido por Jeffrey Masson como «a melhor introdução aos Direitos Animais já escrita», com uma linguagem simples e elegante, Jaulas Vazias refuta a imagem negativa dos Defensores dos Direitos Animais difundida pelos meios de comunicação social, desmascara a retórica fraudulenta do «tratamento humanitário» defendido pelas indústrias de exploração animal e explica como funcionam as leis existentes no sentido de legitimar a crueldade institucional. É agora pela primeira vez editado em português europeu.