Beating Hearts: Abortion and Animal Rights
- Jan 17
- 1 min read
Updated: Feb 20
By Sherry Colb & Michael Dorf • 2016
A legal scholar and a constitutional law professor tackle one of the most fraught intersections in ethics: what do abortion rights and animal rights have to do with each other? Colb and Dorf argue that the same moral reasoning that supports abortion rights (bodily autonomy and sentience as the basis for moral consideration) also supports animal rights.
Why it matters
This book is useful for anyone who wants to think rigorously about cross-issue ethics without retreating into tribal positions. It demonstrates how to hold multiple commitments simultaneously and follow arguments where they lead, even when the conclusions are politically awkward. For advocates who encounter "but what about abortion?" as a gotcha, this book provides the tools to engage seriously rather than deflect.
Worth knowing
Colb is a vegan and animal rights advocate; Dorf is a constitutional law scholar who has argued cases before the Supreme Court. The book is academically rigorous but written for general readers. It's not trying to convert anyone, it's trying to clarify what consistency actually requires.
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