As we move through the 21st century, the conversation about is no longer a niche concern for philosophers. It is a pressing economic, environmental, and moral reality. Whether you champion the spacious cage or the empty cage, the direction of travel is clear: the age of absolute dominion over animals is waning, and the age of moral consideration is dawning.
Rights advocates argue that welfarism is a trap. By making factory farming more "humane," the public feels less guilty and consumes more animal products. They call this "happy meat" syndrome. As abolitionist Gary Francione states: "Welfare regulations do not abolish exploitation; they merely make it more efficient." As we move through the 21st century, the