Animal Rights Quotes • Law • Humane Education • Historical Literature eBook Library: Free Full-Text eBooks • Primary Sources
Activists Against Cruelty to Animals: A » B » C » D » E » F » G » H » I » J » K » L » M » N » O » P » Q » R » S » T » U » V » W » X » Y » Z

Animal Rights History Timeline » [1660-1785] Enlightenment: » John Hawkesworth

John Hawkesworth

Remarkable Instances of Cruelty to Brutes

Adventurer, No. 37

[1753-Mar] John Hawkesworth, "Happiness Properly Estimated by its Degree in Whatever Subject, Remarkable Instances of Cruelty to Brutes," The Adventurer No. 37 [1753-Mar-13] (London, 1823; Google Books: Online Library of Free eBooks): 227-234.

It may be justly asserted that the same degree of pain in both [man and animal] is in the same degree an evil; and that it cannot be wantonly inflicted, without equal violation of right. (227-8)

To take pleasure in that by which pain is inflicted, if it is not vicious, is dangerous; and every practice which, if not criminal in itself, yet wears out the sympathizing sensibility of a tender mind, must render human nature proportionably less fit for society. In my pursuit of this train of thought, I considered the inequality with which happiness appears to be distributed among the brute creation, as different animals are in a different degree exposed to the capricious cruelty of mankind. (228)