I believe there are compelling arguments in support of the view that (at least many) non-human animals possess moral status. I also think that this view, in turn, entails that we – as human animals – have certain moral duties toward them. Among these is the duty to minimise, or at the very least not contribute to, their suffering whenever possible.
What follows is a selection of resources I recommend for those interested in engaging with this important topic. Needless to say, if you come across some interesting material on the subject, feel free to point it out to me so that I can add it to the page.
Although I haven't worked on this topic in my academic research, I'm deeply interested in it and have read widely in the philosophical literature on it. The texts I find most illuminating are the classic essays by Peter Singer, especially Animal Liberation (1975), and Tom Regan, particularly The Case for Animal Rights (1983). These authors defend very different positions. Singer, drawing from a utilitarian framework, offers a powerful critique of speciesism – the discrimination against individuals based on their species membership. Regan adopts a deontological perspective and argues that non-human animals possess inherent rights, in a way analogous to human beings.
For those new to the topic, I recommend starting with two accessible and influential articles that summarise the central arguments of these texts: Singer's "All Animals Are Equal" (1974) and Regan's "The Case for Animal Rights" (1986).
An excellent overview of the main criticisms of Singer's approach, as well as possible responses, can be found in Gonzalo Villanueva's article "Against Animal Liberation? Peter Singer and His Critics" (2017). For a thoughtful response to Regan's theory, see Mary Anne Warren's article "Difficulties with the Strong Animal Rights Position" (1987).
Other interesting and more recent contributions include:
David Killoren and Robert Streiffer (2018), "Utilitarianism about Animals and the Moral Significance of Use".
Timothy Perrine (2019), "Consequentialism, Animal Ethics, and the Value of Valuing".
Elizabeth Anderson (2005), "Animal Rights and the Values of Nonhuman Life".
Joshua Jarvis-Campbell (2025), "Is Veganism Not Good Enough? Industrial Plant Agriculture and Unnecessary Harm".
For a comprehensive list of philosophical texts on animal ethics and related topics – including the use of animals in entertainment, animal experimentation, wild animal ethics, and feminist perspectives on anti-speciesism – I recommend exploring this page of the website of the Society for the Study of Ethics and Animals.
I also recommend three insightful works – this time, not essays – that explore the topic from different perspectives:
Between the Species. Dialogues on Ethical Vegetarianism, a brilliant philosophical dialogue by Michael Huemer.
Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer, a deeply personal and reflective essay on our relationship with non-human animals.
The semi-fictional The Lives of Animals by Nobel Prize-winning writer J.M. Coetzee.
Back in 2017, I wrote a short piece in Italian introducing one of Singer's arguments. You can read it here. It served as a preface to two interviews with Sandro Zucchi and Gianfranco Mormino, both professors at the University of Milan and committed advocates of anti-speciesist positions. The interviews are available here and here.
Here are some documentaries that focus non the human treatment of non-human animals, especially in relation to the produciton of food:
Cow, 2021
Dominion, 2018
Earthlings, 2005
Here are some organisations actively working to promote animal welfare:
Animal Ethics: focuses on spreading concern for all sentient beings, including wild animals, and promotes academic work on animal ethics.
Animal Equality: international NGO that uses investigations, education, and legal advocacy to expose cruelty in factory farming.
Animal Save Movement: a global network of grassroots groups that bear witness to animals going to slaughter, promote veganism, and campaign for climate justice.
Essere Animali: Italian NGO that conducts undercover investigations in factory farms, promotes legislative campaigns, and distributes educational materials to raise awareness about animal exploitation and plant-based diets.
Faunalytics: provides data and research to help animal advocates be more effective.
The Humane League: works to reduce the suffering of animals raised for food through corporate campaigns and grassroots outreach.
PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals): one of the largest animal rights organisations; active in public awareness campaigns, protests, and corporate outreach.
Sentience Institute: think tank dedicated to the expansion of moral consideration to all sentient beings through research and strategic outreach.