A CRITICAL NOTE ON “ANIMAL RIGHTS”
TIBOR R. MACHANABSTRACT. Any careful observation of the rest of nature will make it evident that applying moral criteria to how animals live is in error ‒ what philosophers have called a “category mistake.” And at the same time and for similar reasons, ascribing rights to animals is also misguided, just as would be to ascribe guilt to them when they carry out their killings and maiming in the wilds. pp. 11–14
Keywords: rights, moral responsibility, free choice, guilt, punishment