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Speciesism: Why It Is Wrong and the Implications of Rejecting It
What can justify discrimination against other sentient beings?
In this book, Magnus Vinding explores the issue of species discrimination. He argues that speciesism — discrimination based on species membership — is unjustifiable, and proceeds to examine the practical implications of this conclusion. This examination reveals more than a few ways in which our behavior and attitudes need to change profoundly.
"Most people agree that discriminating against someone on the basis of gender, sex or skin color is morally objectionable, but what about species membership? Speciesism: Why It Is Wrong and the Implications of Rejecting It makes a compelling case that this form of discrimination has no justification either, and addresses the most significant implications. These include both the rejection of animal exploitation and the rejection of the idea that we have no reason to help nonhuman animals in need of aid, including when they are suffering in the wild for natural reasons. This book is likely to challenge many of our assumptions, and will encourage us to think deeper about the moral consideration of nonhuman animals."
— Oscar Horta, professor of moral philosophy at University of Santiago de Compostela, author of Making a Stand for Animals
"Humans hurt, harm and kill billions of sentient beings. We routinely treat nonhuman animals in ways that would earn the perpetrators a life sentence in prison if the victims were humans of comparable sentience. Magnus Vinding makes a compelling case for a moral revolution in human behaviour toward nonhuman individuals. Highly recommended."
— David Pearce, author of The Hedonistic Imperative and Can Biotechnology Abolish Suffering
In this book, Magnus Vinding explores the issue of species discrimination. He argues that speciesism — discrimination based on species membership — is unjustifiable, and proceeds to examine the practical implications of this conclusion. This examination reveals more than a few ways in which our behavior and attitudes need to change profoundly.
"Most people agree that discriminating against someone on the basis of gender, sex or skin color is morally objectionable, but what about species membership? Speciesism: Why It Is Wrong and the Implications of Rejecting It makes a compelling case that this form of discrimination has no justification either, and addresses the most significant implications. These include both the rejection of animal exploitation and the rejection of the idea that we have no reason to help nonhuman animals in need of aid, including when they are suffering in the wild for natural reasons. This book is likely to challenge many of our assumptions, and will encourage us to think deeper about the moral consideration of nonhuman animals."
— Oscar Horta, professor of moral philosophy at University of Santiago de Compostela, author of Making a Stand for Animals
"Humans hurt, harm and kill billions of sentient beings. We routinely treat nonhuman animals in ways that would earn the perpetrators a life sentence in prison if the victims were humans of comparable sentience. Magnus Vinding makes a compelling case for a moral revolution in human behaviour toward nonhuman individuals. Highly recommended."
— David Pearce, author of The Hedonistic Imperative and Can Biotechnology Abolish Suffering
- GenresPhilosophy
88 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2015
10 people are currently reading
66 people want to read
About the author
Magnus Vinding
27 books85 followersMagnus Vinding is the author of Speciesism: Why It Is Wrong and the Implications of Rejecting It (2015), Reflections on Intelligence (2016), You Are Them (2017), Effective Altruism: How Can We Best Help Others? (2018), Suffering-Focused Ethics: Defense and Implications (2020), Reasoned Politics (2022), Essays on Suffering-Focused Ethics (2022), and Essays on UFOs and Related Conjectures (2024).
His next book will be Compassionate Purpose: Personal Inspiration for a Better World.
His next book will be Compassionate Purpose: Personal Inspiration for a Better World.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
October 16, 2020
Magnus reflects upon and systematically deconstructs the most morally salient and under-appreciated issue of our time: speciesism.
If Singer's Animal Liberation (1975) was the founding philosophical statement of the animal rights movement, Vinding's Speciesism (2015) is its resultant companion piece. Delving deep into the logical inconsistencies and cognitive biases implicit in speciesism, it then explores the practical, legal and moral implications for rejecting it.
Reading Speciesism is an uncomfortable but pertinent reminder that other species are the greatest victims of history. The least we can do is face this injustice honestly and work to overcome its perpetual re-enactment and re-creation in our everyday lives and culture.
If Singer's Animal Liberation (1975) was the founding philosophical statement of the animal rights movement, Vinding's Speciesism (2015) is its resultant companion piece. Delving deep into the logical inconsistencies and cognitive biases implicit in speciesism, it then explores the practical, legal and moral implications for rejecting it.
Reading Speciesism is an uncomfortable but pertinent reminder that other species are the greatest victims of history. The least we can do is face this injustice honestly and work to overcome its perpetual re-enactment and re-creation in our everyday lives and culture.
April 12, 2021
What?!
As a vegan and a human being who’s anti speciesism I have to say I cannot believe parts of the arguments I just read in this book. The book starts smoothly with rather strong arguments but falls into a chaotic non-sense rant about intervention in the nature to rescue non-human animals from the predators! I actually think the book was a perfect illustration of a white man‘s entitlement and view on rights and equality. At some point I was genuinely scared of how much this person does not understand ecology.
To some it up in this book a person who claims to be anti speciesism ironically rants his way into advocating for a world under full control of homo-sapiens to an extent that we are entitled to decide if a lion gets to eat or reproduce or not. And I’m not even exaggerating!
As a vegan and a human being who’s anti speciesism I have to say I cannot believe parts of the arguments I just read in this book. The book starts smoothly with rather strong arguments but falls into a chaotic non-sense rant about intervention in the nature to rescue non-human animals from the predators! I actually think the book was a perfect illustration of a white man‘s entitlement and view on rights and equality. At some point I was genuinely scared of how much this person does not understand ecology.
To some it up in this book a person who claims to be anti speciesism ironically rants his way into advocating for a world under full control of homo-sapiens to an extent that we are entitled to decide if a lion gets to eat or reproduce or not. And I’m not even exaggerating!
March 6, 2023
This second read was of the updated 2022 edition, after original publication in 2015. Easily the easiest/most accessible recommendation for anyone new to the topic, while note shying away from some of the most important counterintuitive implications, like the prevailing importance of reducing wild animal suffering.
March 18, 2022
Brings a fresh new perspective to veganism with a logical style of argumentation, makes the scope of veganism broader if one were to define veganism as rejection of speciesism. Must read for everyone. I don't think that such a comprehensive look at this topic is available in any other book.
May 8, 2018
Full disclosure: I know the author.
Even though I was already vegan when I read this book, it really opened my eyes to a lot of issues. First and foremost I found the chapters on conservationism and wild animal suffering the most important and eye-opening! It became SO clear that even as a vegan, I and other vegans I know, are still speciesist and engage in speciesist language, behaviour and mindsets.
This book provides the most crucial arguments against speciesism and I find that it is well written. To me it was inspiring in a way that made me want to do even better as an advocate for nonhuman animals and anti-speciesism, I think it's true to say that it changed my life a bit.
Even though I was already vegan when I read this book, it really opened my eyes to a lot of issues. First and foremost I found the chapters on conservationism and wild animal suffering the most important and eye-opening! It became SO clear that even as a vegan, I and other vegans I know, are still speciesist and engage in speciesist language, behaviour and mindsets.
This book provides the most crucial arguments against speciesism and I find that it is well written. To me it was inspiring in a way that made me want to do even better as an advocate for nonhuman animals and anti-speciesism, I think it's true to say that it changed my life a bit.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews