The intellectual journey toward recognizing animal value has evolved over centuries through diverse philosophical lenses.
Under most global legal systems, animals are categorized strictly as property, akin to inanimate objects or vehicles. While anti-cruelty laws penalize owners for egregious abuse, the legal system inherently prioritizes human ownership rights over animal interests. The intellectual journey toward recognizing animal value has
The 20th century saw a seismic shift. The publication of Ruth Harrison’s Animal Machines (1964) shocked the public with photographs of intensive confinement agriculture. This led to the UK’s Brambell Report, which established the "Five Freedoms"—the gold standard of animal welfare: animals are categorized strictly as property