Abstract

The article examines, first, the moral reasons of animalism (animal intrinsic value and their being sentient subjects); second, four different forms of animalism. The author then finds in the European and Italian Law a crucial antinomy: on the one hand, a decisive trend towards protection of animals because of the awareness of their subjectivity and for reasons linked to the dignity of those who "use" animals for utilitarian goals; on the other hand, special rules allowing cruel treatments. In the end, it is proposed as criterion for solving that antinomy the systemic-diacronic interpretation of those legal systems.