Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Share Morals, Ethics, and Animal Law with Mason Liddell | Ep3
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Or
Morals, Ethics, and Animal Law with Mason Liddell | Ep3
What if the laws governing animals weren’t set in stone, but built on moral assumptions we can—and should—challenge?
In this thought-provoking episode of Puppies, Pandemics, and Public Health, host Dr. Johnny Lieberman welcomes Mason Liddell, founder of Animal Counsel. With a background in political and legal philosophy, Mason dives deep into the ethical foundations of animal law, explaining how normative ethics shapes everything from property rights to advocacy strategies.
From historical cases like Pierson v. Post to modern ag-gag laws and the tension between animal welfare and rights, Mason unpacks how societal morals evolve and influence legislation. He shares personal insights on transitioning to veganism, the power of random connections in activism, and practical ways to get involved. Whether you’re an animal lover, legal enthusiast, or public health advocate, this episode reveals how philosophy can fuel systemic change—and why starting small can lead to big impacts.
Top 3 Takeaways
- Normative Ethics Guides Animal Law: Normative Ethics Drives Legal Change Normative ethics questions how we should live and interact with the world, forming the basis for animal laws. Philosophers lay the groundwork, and lawyers turn it into action, challenging assumptions like animals as property.
- Moral Evolution Fuels Legal Change: Laws Evolve with Moral Standards Historical frameworks, like private property rights from English common law or the Pierson v. Post case on wild animal ownership, show that laws aren’t fixed—they change as society’s morals shift, opening doors for animal rights progress.
- Combat Ag-Gag Laws Through Advocacy: Ag-Gag laws, which criminalize exposing factory farm practices, highlight both advocacy challenges and industry fears of transparency. Addressing them requires legal action, public awareness, and strong coalitions.
About the Guest – Mason Liddell, JD
Mason Liddell is the founder of Animal Counsel, a nonprofit organization dedicated to using innovative legal theories to protect animals and the environment. With a background in political and legal philosophy from his undergraduate studies, Mason has been a committed vegan and animal advocate for years. His passion for normative ethics—exploring how we should live and interact with the world—drives his mission to create systemic change through the legal system. By restarting his law school’s Animal Legal Defense Fund chapter, Mason found his calling in animal law, focusing on turning philosophical principles into actionable legal reforms. He encourages grassroots activism, emphasizing the power of random outreach and community-building to advance animal welfare.
🔗 Learn more: https://www.animalcounsel.org
🌐 Website: https://www.animalcounsel.org
📸 Instagram: @animalcounsel
About the Show:
Puppies, Pandemics, and Public Health explores the intersection of animal welfare, public policy, and human health. Hosted by Dr. Johnny Lieberman, each episode invites changemakers, legal experts, and health advocates to shed light on what really impacts our communities—and what we can do about it.
About the Host:
Dr. Johnny Lieberman is a physician, public health advocate, and lifelong animal lover with a passion for connecting the dots between animal welfare, human behavior, and the systems that shape our lives. With a background in both medicine and public health policy, Johnny brings a unique lens to conversations about how our treatment of animals impacts human health, the environment, and social justice.
In Puppies, Pandemics, and Public Health, Johnny brings warmth, curiosity, and a dash of wit to tough conversations that matter. From exposing the realities of factory farming to uncovering the links between zoonotic diseases and our food systems, his goal is to empower listeners to be informed, compassionate, and engaged citizens—while still keeping it real (and sometimes bringing in puppies).
Whether he's discussing legislative loopholes or snuggling his rescue dog between recordings, Dr. Lieberman believes that creating a healthier world starts with how we treat its most vulnerable beings.
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
View all episodes
By Doctor Podcast Network, Dr. Johnny LiebermanWhat if the laws governing animals weren’t set in stone, but built on moral assumptions we can—and should—challenge?
In this thought-provoking episode of Puppies, Pandemics, and Public Health, host Dr. Johnny Lieberman welcomes Mason Liddell, founder of Animal Counsel. With a background in political and legal philosophy, Mason dives deep into the ethical foundations of animal law, explaining how normative ethics shapes everything from property rights to advocacy strategies.
From historical cases like Pierson v. Post to modern ag-gag laws and the tension between animal welfare and rights, Mason unpacks how societal morals evolve and influence legislation. He shares personal insights on transitioning to veganism, the power of random connections in activism, and practical ways to get involved. Whether you’re an animal lover, legal enthusiast, or public health advocate, this episode reveals how philosophy can fuel systemic change—and why starting small can lead to big impacts.
Top 3 Takeaways
- Normative Ethics Guides Animal Law: Normative Ethics Drives Legal Change Normative ethics questions how we should live and interact with the world, forming the basis for animal laws. Philosophers lay the groundwork, and lawyers turn it into action, challenging assumptions like animals as property.
- Moral Evolution Fuels Legal Change: Laws Evolve with Moral Standards Historical frameworks, like private property rights from English common law or the Pierson v. Post case on wild animal ownership, show that laws aren’t fixed—they change as society’s morals shift, opening doors for animal rights progress.
- Combat Ag-Gag Laws Through Advocacy: Ag-Gag laws, which criminalize exposing factory farm practices, highlight both advocacy challenges and industry fears of transparency. Addressing them requires legal action, public awareness, and strong coalitions.
About the Guest – Mason Liddell, JD
Mason Liddell is the founder of Animal Counsel, a nonprofit organization dedicated to using innovative legal theories to protect animals and the environment. With a background in political and legal philosophy from his undergraduate studies, Mason has been a committed vegan and animal advocate for years. His passion for normative ethics—exploring how we should live and interact with the world—drives his mission to create systemic change through the legal system. By restarting his law school’s Animal Legal Defense Fund chapter, Mason found his calling in animal law, focusing on turning philosophical principles into actionable legal reforms. He encourages grassroots activism, emphasizing the power of random outreach and community-building to advance animal welfare.
🔗 Learn more: https://www.animalcounsel.org
🌐 Website: https://www.animalcounsel.org
📸 Instagram: @animalcounsel
About the Show:
Puppies, Pandemics, and Public Health explores the intersection of animal welfare, public policy, and human health. Hosted by Dr. Johnny Lieberman, each episode invites changemakers, legal experts, and health advocates to shed light on what really impacts our communities—and what we can do about it.
About the Host:
Dr. Johnny Lieberman is a physician, public health advocate, and lifelong animal lover with a passion for connecting the dots between animal welfare, human behavior, and the systems that shape our lives. With a background in both medicine and public health policy, Johnny brings a unique lens to conversations about how our treatment of animals impacts human health, the environment, and social justice.
In Puppies, Pandemics, and Public Health, Johnny brings warmth, curiosity, and a dash of wit to tough conversations that matter. From exposing the realities of factory farming to uncovering the links between zoonotic diseases and our food systems, his goal is to empower listeners to be informed, compassionate, and engaged citizens—while still keeping it real (and sometimes bringing in puppies).
Whether he's discussing legislative loopholes or snuggling his rescue dog between recordings, Dr. Lieberman believes that creating a healthier world starts with how we treat its most vulnerable beings.
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.