The concept of animal rights was further developed by Tom Regan, an American philosopher, who argued that animals have inherent rights, including the right to life, liberty, and freedom from exploitation. Regan's work emphasized the need for a radical shift in human attitudes towards animals, from regarding them as property to recognizing their autonomy and dignity.

While both aim to protect animals, their fundamental goals differ significantly:

: Courts in South America have granted legal personhood to non-human primates, and in 2020, the Islamabad High Court recognized that animals have natural rights to have their environmental and behavioral needs met. 4. Ethical Perspectives Across Cultures

The conflict emerges on strategy. Welfarists support “happy meat” and “cage-free” labels. Rights advocates see this as a betrayal—a way to soothe consumer guilt without changing the fundamental relationship of exploitation. For example, many welfarists supported the EU’s ban on conventional battery cages. Rights advocates noted that most hens simply moved to slightly larger “enriched” cages, still unable to fully stretch their wings.

as the ethical framework for minimizing animal use in scientific settings. 3. The Philosophy of Animal Rights