Study Guide
Mary Ann Warren - Difficulties with the Strong Animal Rights Position

1. What are two key differences between Regan's "Strong Animal Rights" position and Warren's "Weak Animal Rights" position?
2. What is Warren's estimation of Regan's claim that normal mature mammals are experiencing subjects of a life?
3. What does Warren think of Regan's position on the inherent value had by all experiencing subjects of a life?
4. What is Warren's view on the relationship between having inherent value and having rights?
5. What is the "line-drawing" problem that Warren describes regarding Regan's view?
6. How is the "benefit of the doubt" principle supposed to work in Regan's view and what does Warren think of this principle?
7. What is it about people that Warren believes justifies regarding their rights as generally stronger than those of sentient beings who are not persons?
8. How does Warren respond to the criticism that her view implies that infants and mentally incompetent individuals do not have the same rights as persons?
9. What practical reasons does Warren cite for saying that animals do have some moral rights?
10. What does Warren think of the cruelty-kindness view that Regan discussed?
11. Would Warren agree that trees, mountains, oceans, and other non-sentient entities may have moral rights as well? Why/Why not?
12. What exactly does Warren's "Weak Animal Rights" position entail?