Putting the Horse before Descartes: My Life's Work on Behalf of Animals

Bernard Rollin recounts his pioneering work in animal ethics and welfare through this academic memoir spanning five decades. His journey from Brooklyn philosophy student to influential advocate for animal consciousness and rights forms the backbone of this narrative. The book documents Rollin's efforts to reform veterinary education and his pivotal role in creating federal legislation for laboratory animal welfare. Through professional anecdotes and philosophical arguments, he demonstrates how he helped bridge the gap between abstract ethical theory and practical animal welfare reforms. His experiences challenging the scientific establishment's views on animal pain and consciousness are detailed alongside his work with ranchers, researchers, and veterinarians. Rollin's personal evolution parallels broader societal shifts in how animals are perceived and treated in research, agriculture, and veterinary medicine. The memoir serves as both historical documentation of a transformative period in animal welfare and a philosophical framework for considering human obligations to other species. It raises fundamental questions about consciousness, ethics, and humanity's relationship with animals.

Readers appreciate Rollin's personal narrative about his journey advocating for animal welfare in academia and veterinary medicine. His philosophical arguments about animal consciousness and rights resonate with both academics and general readers interested in animal ethics. Readers highlight: - Clear explanations of complex philosophical concepts - Firsthand accounts of improving animal treatment in research - Balance between academic theory and practical application Common criticisms: - Writing can be repetitive - Some sections focus too heavily on academic politics - Certain philosophical arguments could be more developed Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (19 ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (11 ratings) One reader noted: "Rollin shows how philosophy can create real change in the world." Another commented: "The personal anecdotes help illustrate abstract concepts about consciousness and suffering." Critics mentioned the book "gets bogged down in institutional details" and "retreads similar ground across chapters."

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🐎 Bernard Rollin was one of the first philosophers to teach a course on animal ethics in the United States, beginning at Colorado State University in 1978. 🔬 The book's title is a play on words that challenges Descartes' view of animals as "machines without consciousness" - a belief that heavily influenced scientific treatment of animals. 📚 Rollin helped draft the 1985 federal laws protecting laboratory animals and played a key role in mandating pain control in animal research. 🎓 While working with veterinary students, Rollin discovered that many had been taught to deny the existence of animal pain, leading him to revolutionize veterinary ethics education. 🌟 The author's work bridges the gap between abstract philosophical concepts and practical animal welfare, drawing from his unique experience as both a philosopher and an advocate working directly with ranchers, researchers, and veterinarians.