Tom Regan (b. 1938)
American philosopher and teacher. Born in Pittsburgh, Regan earned his B.A. at Thiel College in Pennsylvania and his Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Virginia. He has spent most of his career teaching philosophy at North Carolina State University, where he is now professor emeritus. His research in theoretical and applied ethics led him to the teachings of Mohandas Gandhi, whom Regan credits for his interest in the ethical treatment of animals. Today Regan is regarded as one of the leading intellectuals in the animal rights movement. His works include All That Dwell Therein: Essays on Animal Rights and Environmental Ethics (1982); The Case for Animal Rights (1983, 1985, 2004); his autobiography, The Bird in the Cage: A Glimpse of My Life (1991); and Empty Cages: Facing the Challenge of Animal Rights (2004). See also ncsu.edu.