Rattling The Cage: Toward Legal Rights For Animals

I know it is a text book, but it was a really good buy. I had to get it for a class, but never wanted to sell it back because of the useful information on geography, physical science, and earth science.

I hope someday humans will not only have more respect for each other, but for the many other intelligent creatures on this planet. A stunning, well-researched, well-written book. I hope the legal rights outlined within will be a reality in our future.

Superbly written and informative. Would make a great text for college courses, as well as the general public interested in animal welfare, animal rights, or animal law.Strong endorsements by leaders in the animal welfare domain such as Jane Goodall and Peter Singer.

Prompt delivery, nice goods. Thanks.

Very good

RATTLING THE LAWJust as Peter Singer and Tom Regan dramatically influenced the world of philosophy and environmental ethics by suggesting that nonhuman animals are worthy of moral consideration, this remarkable book by Steven Wise is a major contribution, if not the seminal work, in a developing body of jurisprudential writing that makes a case for the granting of appropriate legal rights to at least some non-human animals.Rattling the Cage is a comprehensively researched and captivating argument for the extension of legal rights to chimpanzees and bonobos (pygmy chimpanzees). It begins with an historical look at the origins of our pervasive and convenient cultural assumptions about the supposed inferiority of nonhuman beings and how that seemingly insurmountable prejudice is rooted in classical philosophy's concept of a Great Chain of Being that hierarchically places humans just below the Godly realms and all other animals far beneath man, and therefore deservedly subject to every human whim.Wise argues that the untold suffering of nonhumans at the hands of our species has been dubiously justified through the ages by seemingly infinite variations of this Great Chain of Being theme, and that the time has come, with the assistance of scientific revelations modern technology has afforded us (through such disciplines as psychology, anthropology, physiology, and ethology), to show that some nonhumans are far closer to us in both cognitive capacities and emotional makeup than we have previously believed or allowed ourselves to realize. Wise makes his case by analyzing exhaustive and unfailingly interesting (and sometimes riveting) studies of primate cognition and behavior, as well as anecdotal tales that indelibly etch his argument in our minds, and when one reads stories of such chimps as Lucy, who made tea for internationally renowned primatologist, Roger Fouts, each morning before her lessons in signing, our hearts as well.But, however thoroughly Wise makes the case for advanced cognition in chimpanzees, and in parts of the book such as his superb chapter on language and consciousness, he makes the case exceedingly well, the fundamental importance of his book lies elsewhere.As an accomplished attorney with over twenty years experience representing nonhuman beings in court, Wise walks us through the difficulties of finding relief, if not justice, for such a clientele. He explains the difference between legal thinghood and legal personhood, and here begins what this reader considers to be Wise's greatest contribution to the cause of animal rights. He claims that the crucial judicial distinction between the two concepts lies in the capacity for and degree of autonomy the subject or party in question possesses or exhibits, and suddenly his exhaustive presentation of non-human primate cognition takes on newfound meaning. Wise is seriously suggesting that non-human primates deserve to be elevated to the status of legal persons rather than things.While other highly accomplished attorneys and activists advocate legislation as the most effective route to animal legal rights (and he would surely and warmly welcome such legislation), Wise argues that the common law holds the greatest promise for the recognition of legal personhood and rights in animals.Conventional wisdom holds that common law judges make rulings solely on the basis of precedent, regardless of the ever-changing contexts in which cases are decided, but Wise shows us with convincing clarity that common law judges act not only in accordance with precedent, but on the bases of policy and principle as well, and that such considerations provide a jurisprudential window through which judges might legitimately elevate chimpanzees to legal personhood and afford them what appropriate rights they deserve. (Anyone who doubts the power of policy and principle to motivate judges need only reflect upon Justice Harlan's historical dissent in Plessy v. Ferguson, where he argued that separate but equal was an unacceptable racial divide, and the fact that his reasoning was adopted almost whole cloth half a century later when the Supreme Court discredited that precedent in Brown v. Board of Education.)By no means does Wise believe that chimpanzees and bonobos are the only nonhumans entitled to legal rights, but feels the case can most readily be made for these creatures because they are "evolutionarily closest" to us. He no doubt understands the words of Harvard's legendary constitutional law professor, Laurence Tribe, who once wrote that "...the very process of recognizing rights in those...with whom we can already empathize could well pave the way for still further extensions as we move upward along the spiral of moral evolution."Steven Wise has written a profoundly important book that may well present a blueprint for open-minded judges of conscience to grant long-overdue legal rights to our closest genetic cousins. But it is also contains a very well-written and deeply moving message to the educated lay reader, a plea for compassion and justice so emotionally potent that one will laugh and cry while Wise gradually, logically, and powerfully builds his case, a case that, with no small thanks to his provocative book, may someday soon be won.

Animals are living, breathing, feeling, living, loving, soul-filled children of God, just as much as we human animals are.Further, Animals can (and do) speak, only we ignorant human animals are too stupid to take the time to listen.We human animals are legends in our own minds.Animals deserve the same love, respect, compassion, consideration, AND RIGHTS that we afford to anyone else.Animals have souls....... eternal souls.To think otherwise is to be ignorant, arrogant, speciesist and one other thing: Wrong.I highly recommend the book "The Souls of Animals". Slimy politicians dont want to give Animals Rights for three reasons:1. Animals dont vote (Thus, for politicians who are seeking to climb the political ladder, giving Animals rights doesnt help the politicians, because no "monetary thanks" or "political support" are forthcoming...therefore, they dont care, unless they can benefit.)2. Animals dont carry wallets (Thus, politicians dont care about them, because they dont contribute to the campaigns)3. Politicians are human animals, and like many human animals, they only think of themselves, and they are ignorant of the fact that ALL Animals (human or otherwise) are equally important. This prejudice is called SPECIESISM. It gives us the delusion of grandeur that allows us to hype ourselves, while ignoring our spiritual siblings who walk on four legs, and who deserve just as much love, compassion, and LEGAL RIGHTS that the rest of us do. If WE tell the politicians that they wont be getting OUR votes, or OUR campaign contributions, unless they give Animals legal rights, you will see alot more Animal friendly politicians out there, and Animals will gain many legal rights. Try it and see. Oh, and just one question for you......If YOUR soul was in the body of a Cat or Dog, would YOU want rights? You better believe you most certainly would, therefore, lets give Animals the rights that they so richly deserve!"Man has alot to learn from the higher Animals"-Mark Twain

Amazing book. Wise makes a very clear, very compelling argument for extending (some) legal rights to (some) nonhuman animals. Anyone interested in where humans stand within the animal kingdom and what we should do about it should read it.

Great delivery. Great book. Thanks

excellent...