Although PETA's insistence upon vegetarianism and abolition of animal research is extremely annoying, the group's underlying moral philosophy is far more disturbing. As is implied by the infamous phrase, "a rat is a pig is a dog is a boy," animal rights activists see mice as moral equivalents of men. People who believe that man is morally superior to the beasts were once called humanists, and now they are labeled "speciesists." This revision of the American vocabulary was necessary as animal activists wanted to link their cause to such emotionally charged words as "racism" and "sexism"; the word "speciesism" served their purpose.
Surprisingly, the idea that animals possess "rights" has received little public opposition, yet it undermines our most basic concepts of human rights. Rights, to a great extent, are based upon contractarianism--that is, we treat others as we should have them treat us. When we extend the philosophy of ...
