Can we see non-human animals are agents?

Abstract

In this thesis, I investigate non-human animal agency and I question whether we can see non-human animals are agents or not. I shall adopt a Moorean approach to animal agency and argue that we can see animals are agents just as we can see human agency because non-human animals are kind of entities that have the capacity for agency. There is a close connection between rights and agency and agents have inviolable rights that protect them. In order for animals to have rights, it is necessary for them to be agents. I claim that a theory of animal rights needs a theory of animal agency. Thus, the main argument is that we can in fact, see animals are agents which implies that we can actually see animals are agents when we look at them, just like we can see human agency.