Understanding animal welfare: An integrated approach

The thesis examines the contents, influence, and potential of a personal selection of modern books published over the last fifty years or so that have relevance to improving animal welfare. Many books are reviewed and relevant issues discussed, but the thesis concentrates on eight major works. Key texts in eight address the central animal welfare areas: animal 119 experimentation, intensive farming, immorality and animal ethics, speciesism, animal welfare science, practical action to reform animal ethics, animal protection, politics, and legislation. In each area, the contribution provided by a major text in the field, other books with potential for influence, as well as detailed consideration of each area of interest. An historical perspective of the development of animal welfare interests is provided. The thesis develops the central tenets of the causes espoused in each of these fields of animal welfare. These books selected include three early classical works that deal mainly with animal experimentation and intensive farming, and five books that concentrate on specific subject disciplines, namely history, science, applied ethics, politics and law, that are important to improving the welfare of animals against suffering inflicted by humans. The selected books are arranged in sequence of their date of publication, and for each book some other related books are also mentioned or discussed. The selected books provide a broad understanding of animal protection issues, and they illuminate the ingredients for an informed and integrated approach to improving the welfare of animals. The books selected have been influential, and they offer potential for future improvements in animal welfare