About Me!

Welcome to our blog! We are four undergraduate students who, for our English 101 class, analyzed the different elements of rhetoric in two essays advocating for the rights of animals. We chose this topic not only because we were interested in the history of the movement, but also because it is far from over. While the animal rights movement did not gain full momentum until the 1970s, we found a 1965 essay which seemed to represent a lot of the arguments and views of the movement to come, and paired that article with one written from a modern perspective after the movement had fully blossomed and a great deal of scientific research had been conducted. It is important to understand how the movement has progressed from then to now so that advocates can see what areas of the argument, whether they be logical or rhetorical, still need improvement.

Both “The Rights of Animals” by Brigid Brophy and “A Universal Declaration on Animal Sentience: No Pretending” by Dr. Marc Bekoff implore their audiences to change their attitudes and actions towards animals by presenting logical arguments through philosophical reflection and scientific evidence, respectively. These elements are ultimately employed in order to advocate for the extension of common empathy to nonhuman animals. Brophy’s work looks at the ways humans treat animals and discusses why human consumption of animal products is unethical. Similarly, Bekoff claims that sufficient research has been conducted to prove animals have sentience, and that animals should be treated fairly as a result of this. Essentially, the two texts draw the same conclusion, though through different methodical approaches. These varying approaches complement one another, resulting in a very sound, logical argument in support of animal rights.

We began the blog by posting about kairos and logos as the urgency to initiate action on behalf of animals was apparent in both works, and logical reasoning was the primary method of achieving this. Because animals are being raised in horrible conditions for human use and consumption, both texts implore their audiences for change. Despite the fact that the texts were written nearly fifty years apart, each author had more than enough incentive to plea for action on behalf of the billions of animals being tormented and killed each and every year. Brophy argued for fair treatment of animals through a rational assessment of society’s views and logical refutation of speciesist arguments. On the other hand, Bekoff developed similar points through analysis of scientific data and interpretation of its ethical implications.

Next we tackled ethos and pathos in both texts. Brophy appealed to pathos by describing animal suffering and comparing the plight of animals to that of oppressed humans. She established ethos as a prominent philosopher and accomplished writer. Dr. Bekoff also established ethos in his mini-biography in the corner of the article as a Professor in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, and after some research, we found that he is also an author of a book that addresses issues similar to those discussed his article.

Finally we decided to summarize the overall impact of the texts by addressing their audiences and stasis theories. Their audiences were essentially any human that consumes animal products, as those were the people capable of making a change to help the lives of thousands of animals. Additionally, Bekoff’s article was addressed to those who still question animal sentience. He expressed his frustration towards them and urged them to accept all the research that has been conducted. Ultimately, the stasis in both articles is the same: it is wrong to use animals against their will for our pleasure, and it is therefore our moral duty to adjust our actions accordingly.