In this substantially revised and updated new edition of Animal Rights, Mark Rowlands provides a lucid defence of the moral claims of animals. The book examines each of the major ethical traditions: utilitarianism and Peter Singer's defence of animal liberation; natural rights doctrine and Tom Regan's case for animal rights, virtue ethics; and the Rosalind Hursthouse/Roger Scruton dispute on blood sports. It also provides the most detailed, sophisticated and comprehensive contractarian defence of animals ever developed.

Examining each of these ethical theories in turn, this book serves as an exceptionally clear and useful introduction to the major ethical traditions. Rowlands argues that all of these theories entail that we have far more substantial moral commitments to animals than most of us would care to admit. This new edition includes a new introduction, a new chapter on virtue ethics and animals, and new material on contractarianism and animal minds.