Tom Regan

Tom Regan Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 28 November 1938 Philosopher and animal rights activist

In 1960, he graduated from Thiel College. Afterwards, he received his master's (1962) and PhD (1966) degrees from the University of Virginia.

He is currently a professor of Philosophy at North Carolina State University in the United States, where he teaches since 1967.

In The Case for Animal Rights Regan claims that non-human animals are bearers of rights like humans, although not necessarily of the same degree. This means that animals in this class have "inherent value" as individuals, and cannot merely be considered as means for an end. This is also called a "direct duty" view on the moral status of non-human animals. According to Regan we should abolish the breeding of animals for food, animal experimentation and commercial hunting. Hence, Regan has always been a committed vegan.

Works

 * All That Dwell Therein: Essays on Animal Rights and Environmental Ethics (1982)
 * Animal Sacrifices: Religious Perspectives on the Use of Animals in Science (1986)
 * The Case for Animal Rights
 * Empty Cages: Facing the Challenge of Animal Rights