ABSTRACT
The Animal Rights View (ARV) has to be understood as a close interrelation between philosophical, ethical and political doctrines. Historically and politically the ARV can be seen as an expansion of human rights as for instance mentioned in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), to sentient animals in general and not human animals only. Having its origin in the 18th and 19th centuries, it aims to protect sentient animals from specific human use, such as hunting, human entertainment in zoos and circuses, or harmful animal research.
The presented position in this chapter is an egalitarian sentientist animal rights position that claims that every sentient being should be granted three basic, individual rights – the right of freedom, right of defence and the right to assistance. Its political and philosophical background will be outlined first, followed by the evaluation of the three presented cases with the normative standards of ARV. It will be shown that the ARV would strongly limit the use of animals within scientific research.
