Abstract
Zoocentrism can include an array of bioethical theories that share the assumption that at least some animals have moral standing per se. It emerged from the social justice movement in the late eighteenth century, resulting in the foundation of the animal protection movements throughout the nineteenth century. Societal concern for the treatment of animals, especially in agriculture and research, in the last quarter of the twentieth century catalyzed the further development of zoocentric philosophy, most notably Singer’s advocacy of treating equal interests equally, Regan’s animal rights doctrine, virtue-based approaches, and Rollin’s hybrid ethical viewpoints. Key outcomes of zoocentrism are evident in societal attitudes towards animals, particularly in Western societies, with the development of legal frameworks, which not only aim to prevent cruelty to animals but also to support the health and well-being of animals in agriculture, research, sport, and companionship.
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Acknowledgments
The authors are grateful to Dr. Anna Olsson and Dr. Nuno Henrique Franco (Institute for Molecular and Cell Biology – Portugal) for their insightful comments and suggestions on an earlier draft of this entry.
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Hanlon, A.J., Magalhães-Sant’Ana, M. (2016). Zoocentrism. In: ten Have, H. (eds) Encyclopedia of Global Bioethics. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-09483-0_450
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