Title: Beyond Utilitarianism: Reconciling Animal Welfare and Rights in Modern Ethical Discourse
What is Animal Welfare?
Most current laws are based on welfare principles rather than granting legal rights or "standing" to animals.
Animal welfare and animal rights are often used interchangeably, but they represent two distinct moral and legal frameworks regarding our relationship with non-human animals. Animal Welfare: The "Humane Treatment" Standard
Global trend: Over 30 countries have banned cosmetic animal testing. Several (France, New Zealand) have recognized great apes as “non-human persons” for limited rights.
Factory Farming: The scale of industrial agriculture makes maintaining individual welfare difficult, leading to debates over "ag-gag" laws and environmental impact.