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Animal Rights History Timeline » [1660-1785] Enlightenment » Johann David Michaelis

Sir Johann David Michaelis

Commentaries on the Law of Moses

Of Obligations and Law Repecting Animals

Kindness and Compassion towards Animals in General

[1770-5] Johann David Michaelis, "Kindness and Compassion towards Animals in General," article clxvi "Of Obligations and Laws Respecting Animals," chapter 13 of volume 2 of Commentaries on the Laws of Moses, translated from German by Alexander Smith, 4 vols. (London, 1819; Google Books: Online Library of Free eBooks); [Originally pulished in German as Mosaisches Recht in 6 parts between 1770 and 1775; a second editon in 5 parts was publihed beteen 1775-1780; Possibly from a course of lectures—Translators Preface

We shall find that Moses, throughout his laws, manifests event towards animals a spirit of justice and kindness, and inculcates the avoidance not only of actual cruelty, but even of its appearance. A code of civil law does not, indeed, necessarily provide for the rights of animals, because they are not citizens; but still, the way in which animals are treated, so strongly influences the manners and sentiments of a people event towards their fellow-creatures (for he who habitually acts with cruelty and want of feeling to beasts, will soon become cruel and hard-hearted to men), that a legislator will sometimes find ti necessary to attend to it, to prevent his people from becoming savage. (379)