Glossary · Ethics

Speciesism

Information available in English.

Definition

What 'Speciesism' means

Detailed explanation in primary glossary.

All glossary terms

In depth

The longer answer

Speciesism is the ethical framework or prejudice that assigns different values, rights, or special considerations to individuals solely based on their species membership. Similar to racism or sexism, it involves an arbitrary moral hierarchy where humans are positioned at the top, followed by specific companion animals, while others are relegated to instrumental use. Readers encounter this concept in animal rights literature, environmental ethics, and legal debates regarding the status of non-human animals as persons rather than property.

In practice, speciesism manifests through the legal and social categorization of animals based on their utility to humans rather than their capacity to suffer. For example, the same biological traits that grant a dog legal protection from cruelty are often ignored in pigs or cows within industrial farming systems. This systemic bias allows for the routine confinement, mutilation, and slaughter of billions of sentient beings for food, clothing, or research, while domestic pets receive medical care and emotional investment.

For the conscious consumer, recognizing speciesism involves questioning why certain animals are deemed 'friends' and others 'food' despite sharing similar cognitive and emotional complexities. It matters because it challenges the internal consistency of our ethical choices and shopping habits. While shifting away from speciesist views often leads to plant-based living, it also requires acknowledging the nuance of human necessity, cultural traditions, and the practical difficulties of avoiding all animal-derived products in a globalized economy.

At a glance

Quick facts

Quick facts — Speciesism
Detail	What to know
Coined by	Richard D. Ryder in 1970
Core Principle	Moral status based on sentience, not species
Legal Status	Animals generally classified as property worldwide
Common Synonyms	Human exceptionalism or anthropocentrism

In practice

What this means for you

Evaluate if your concern for animal welfare extends to all species or only those commonly kept as household pets.
Notice how marketing language uses euphemisms for livestock while using individual names and personalities for companion animals.
Consider the cognitive capabilities of farmed animals, such as pigs, which often exceed those of domestic dogs.
Reflect on whether a product's utility to you outweighs the inherent interest of the animal to remain alive.

FAQ

Common questions

Is speciesism the same as saying humans and animals are identical?

No, rejecting speciesism does not mean claiming humans and animals are identical in every way. It means that their shared capacity for suffering and desire to live should be given equal moral consideration. While a pig does not need the right to vote, it possesses a fundamental interest in avoiding pain and confinement just as a human does.

Why is it considered a form of prejudice?

It is viewed as a prejudice because it uses a biological category—species—to justify the unequal distribution of basic rights. Ethicists argue that species membership is an arbitrary trait, much like skin color or gender, which does not track an individual's ability to feel pain, experience joy, or possess a subjective life.

Can you be a non-speciesist and still eat meat?

Most philosophers argue that consistent non-speciesism leads to a plant-based diet because killing an animal for taste preference prioritizes minor human interests over an animal's life. However, some argue for 'welfarism,' where the focus is on eliminating suffering during the animal's life rather than the act of using them entirely.