Speciesism: Why It Is Wrong and the Implications of Rejecting It

What can justify discrimination against other sentient beings?

In this book, Magnus Vinding explores the issue of species discrimination. He argues that speciesism — discrimination based on species membership — is unjustifiable, and proceeds to examine the practical implications of this conclusion. This examination reveals more than a few ways in which our behavior and attitudes need to change profoundly.

"Most people agree that discriminating against someone on the basis of gender, sex or skin color is morally objectionable, but what about species membership? Speciesism: Why It Is Wrong and the Implications of Rejecting It makes a compelling case that this form of discrimination has no justification either, and addresses the most significant implications. These include both the rejection of animal exploitation and the rejection of the idea that we have no reason to help nonhuman animals in need of aid, including when they are suffering in the wild for natural reasons. This book is likely to challenge many of our assumptions, and will encourage us to think deeper about the moral consideration of nonhuman animals."

— Oscar Horta, professor of moral philosophy at University of Santiago de Compostela, author of Making a Stand for Animals

"Humans hurt, harm and kill billions of sentient beings. We routinely treat nonhuman animals in ways that would earn the perpetrators a life sentence in prison if the victims were humans of comparable sentience. Magnus Vinding makes a compelling case for a moral revolution in human behaviour toward nonhuman individuals. Highly recommended."

— David Pearce, author of The Hedonistic Imperative and Can Biotechnology Abolish Suffering?

© 2020 The Neuroethics Foundation (Audiobook): 9781987164787

Release date

Audiobook: March 10, 2020