Arthur Schopenhauer's view on animal rights

According to Schopenhauer, "The assumption that animals are without rights and the illusion that our treatment of them has no moral significance is a positively outrageous example of Western crudity and barbarity.

Animals have been supposed to have lesser rights than humans from the beginning of history, with a few exceptions in some philosophical and religious traditions.

[6][4] Schopenhauer had a profound interest in studying the Hindu philosophies, which held that animals should be treated with a minimum of respect.

It was said that, during his later life, Arthur Schopenhauer preferred to live in solitude, with the exception of his pet dogs, all of which were purportedly poodles.

It was said that Schopenhauer, naturally having a misanthropic aversion to people, would rather spend his time with walks with his poodle.