The publication of The Case for Animal Rights in 1983 provided a foundational text for the modern animal rights movement. Through his scholarly work, Tom Regan argued that non-human animals possess inherent value as subjects-of-a-life, a status that necessitates consistent moral consideration regardless of a being's ability to act as a rational agent.
Academic Background and Career
Born in Pittsburgh in 1938, Regan completed his undergraduate education at Thiel College in 1960. He subsequently earned his M.A. in 1962 and his PhD in 1966 from the University of Virginia. In 1967, he began his long-standing tenure in the philosophy department at North Carolina State University, where he served until his retirement in 2001. During his final year of active teaching, he collaborated with university librarians to establish the Tom Regan Archives, the first American repository dedicated specifically to the study of animal rights.
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Regan developed a rigorous ethical framework that challenged traditional human-centric perspectives. His scholarly output included numerous books exploring the moral status of animals, such as Animal Rights and Human Obligations, co-authored with Peter Singer, and All That Dwell Therein. In 1985, he and his wife, Nancy, established the Culture and Animals Foundation to support intellectual and artistic efforts focused on animal welfare. Beyond academic writing, he directed the 1986 film We Are All Noah and the 1988 project Voices I Have Heard, utilizing media to disseminate his philosophical conclusions.
Legacy and Archive
Following his death from pneumonia in Raleigh on February 17, 2017, Regan left behind an extensive body of work, including correspondence, research documentation, and audiovisual materials now housed at the Special Collections Research Center at North Carolina State University. The university maintains an annual fellowship established in his name to support ongoing research. His later career also branched into literature, with the publication of two collections of stories, Maud's Place and Other Southern Stories and A Better Life and Other Pittsburgh Stories, released in 2014.
Fast facts
- Born: 1938, Pittsburgh
- Died: 2017, Raleigh
- Education: Thiel College, University of Virginia
- Primary Field: Animal rights philosophy
- Academic Home: North Carolina State University
- Notable Book: The Case for Animal Rights (1983)
- Spouse: Nancy Regan
- Archive Location: NC State University Libraries
Questions readers ask
What core concept did Tom Regan introduce to animal ethics?
He proposed the subjects-of-a-life theory, which posits that non-human animals share a basic inherent value with humans that deserves moral respect.
Where are Tom Regan's research papers located?
His professional papers and research files are preserved at the Special Collections Research Center within the NC State University Libraries.
Achievements
- Held posts at North Carolina State University
- Fields: philosophy, ethics and animal rights
