 First edition title page | |
| Author | Thomas Young |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Subject | Animal ethics,Christian ethics |
| Genre | Essay |
| Publisher | T. Cadell, Jun. and W. Davies; W. H. Lunn;J. Deighton |
Publication date | 9 March 1798 |
| Publication place | Kingdom of Great Britain |
| Media type | Print (hardcover) |
| Pages | 202 |
| OCLC | 1422462229 |
| Text | An Essay on Humanity to Animals atHathiTrust |
An Essay on Humanity to Animals is a 1798 book by English theologian and writerThomas Young that argues for the moral obligation to treat animals with kindness and compassion. Published in 1798, the book was part of an emerging discourse on animal welfare and moral philosophy in late 18th-century Britain. Drawing onChristian ethics,natural law, and philosophical reasoning, Young challenges the view that animals exist solely for human use, asserting that animals aresentient beings capable of suffering and therefore deserving of moral consideration. He describes animals as possessingnatural rights grounded in their ability to feel pain, and contends that these rights impose ethical duties on humans.
The book critiques a range of practices that Young identifies as cruel or unnecessary, includingblood sports, hunting, fishing, overwork of horses, and inhumane methods of food production. It also addresses the impact of childhood cruelty to animals and condemns forms of entertainment involvinganimal suffering.An Essay on Humanity to Animals is considered one of the earliest English-language works to present a sustained ethical argument on behalf of animals, and it has been cited by later writers onanimal welfare andanimal rights, includingHenry Stephens Salt andEdward Payson Evans.
Thomas Young was educated atTrinity College, Cambridge, where he matriculated in 1790 and graduated as 12th Wrangler in 1794. He became a fellow of the college and later served as tutor and senior dean. In 1813, he was appointed Rector ofGilling East, Yorkshire, a position he held until his death in 1835.[1]
An Essay on Humanity to Animals was published early in his career, in 1798, while he was still based at Cambridge.[2]
Animals are endued with a capability of perceiving pleasure and pain; and from the abundant provision which we perceive in the world for the gratification of their several senses, we must conclude that the Creator wills the happiness of these his creatures, and consequently that humanity towards them is agreeable to him, and cruelty the contrary. This, I take it, is the foundation of theRights of animals, as far as they can be traced independently of scripture; and is, even by itself, decisive on the subject, being the same sort of argument as that on which moralists found the Rights of Mankind, as deduced from the Light of Nature.
The book is structured into a series of chapters, each examining different forms of human cruelty toward animals and the ethical implications of such behaviour. In the opening chapter, Young draws a link betweencruelty to animals and broader social violence, arguing that mistreatment of animals fosters insensitivity and a general disposition toward brutality. Emphasising animals'sentience—their capacity to experience pleasure and pain—he contends that this alone creates a moral obligation to treat them with compassion. He describesanimal rights as grounded innatural law anddivine will, maintaining that animals possess moral claims by virtue of their ability to suffer. Young further argues that the humane treatment of animals is essential to both moral and spiritual well-being, aligning this view withChristian doctrine and natural evidence.
Subsequent chapters address specific practices that Young deems ethically indefensible. He warns against allowing children to harm animals, suggesting that unchecked cruelty in youth can lead to a hardened character. He condemnsblood sports and popular entertainments such asbull-baiting,cockfighting, andhunting for sport, criticising them as morally corrupt and socially harmful. Similarly, he opposes fishing and shooting for amusement, arguing that they cause needless suffering and lack justification.
One chapter is devoted to the treatment of horses, which Young praises as loyal and essential to human labour but often subjected to overwork, mutilation, and abuse. He calls for more humane treatment, recognising their intelligence and service. The book also discusses cruelty in food production, including the practice ofskinning animals alive, crimping fish, and killing bees duringhoney extraction, all of which Young condemns as inhumane and unnecessary. He advocates for alternative practices that reduce harm to animals.
In its concluding sections, the essay turns to more general and domestic instances of cruelty, including the mistreatment of dogs. Young highlights the loyalty and intelligence of dogs, recounting examples of their attachment to humans and criticising those who repay such devotion with neglect or abuse. Throughout, he appeals to readers' moral conscience, combining theological, ethical, and observational arguments in support of a more compassionate and just treatment of animals.
A reviewer forThe Monthly Review commendedAn Essay on Humanity to Animals for its eloquence and moral advocacy, highlighting poignant stories like a polar bear's sacrifices to save her cubs. It praised the work's ability to inspire compassion and promote humane treatment of animals, considering it a significant contribution to the cause ofanimal welfare.[3]
The Monthly Mirror praised the book for its compelling arguments against animal cruelty, recommending it to those involved in activities likehorse racing and cockfighting. The review highlighted its engaging style, zoological examples, and emphasis on animals' capacity for suffering.[4]
The British Critic praised the work's benevolence and moral arguments, though noted occasional over-refinement. It recommended the work for those overseeing children's education due to its potential positive influence. The review supported its criticism of practices likebird-netting, hunting, and cockfighting, and praised its introductoryOde to Humanity as elegant and fitting.[5]
Henry S. Salt referencedAn Essay on Humanity to Animals in the bibliography of his 1892 work,Animals' Rights: Considered in Relation to Social Progress.[6]Benjamin Bryan also cited a quotation from Young's book in his 1895 publication,Anti-Vivisection Evidences.[7]Edward Payson Evans included it in the bibliography of his 1898 book,Evolutional Ethics and Animal Psychology.[8] More recently,Charles R. Magel listed it in his 1989 work,Keyguide to Information Sources in Animal Rights.[9]
According to animal rights historianRod Preece,John Styles's essay,The Animal Creation: Its Claims on Our Humanity Stated and Enforced, appears to have borrowed extensively from Young's earlier writings, potentially amounting to plagiarism.[10] In "The Status of Animals in Biblical and Christian Thought", Preece compared Young to contemporary church animal welfare proponentsRichard Dean andHumphrey Primatt.[11]
In 2013, theAmerican Philosophical Society Library featured Young's work in a web exhibit showcasing historical texts on animal studies, ranging from natural history to modern animal rights.[12]
Benjamin Curtis describesAn Essay on Humanity to Animals as the first known work to provide detailed accounts of the cruelty inflicted on animals by humans, distinguishing it as a significant milestone in the development of animal rights literature.[13]
The book was published on 9 March 1798 byT. Cadell, Jun. and W. Davies inthe Strand, with additional distribution by W. H. Lunn inOxford Street andJ. Deighton in Cambridge.[14] An abridged version was published in 1804 by Knott and Lloyd in Birmingham.[15]
In 2001, Rod Preece released an edited volume throughEdwin Mellen Press, which included an introduction, annotations, and a foreword contributed by David Fraser.[16]
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