question: why are humans worth more than animals? (page 3)

Mary

As for me, I want animals to be subordinate until they evolve some brains.

I don't want any freakin animals evolving some brains. Did you not see Planet of the Apes?

somebodylovesme

I am a vegetarian.

... ehhhh I was going to type a long thing, but now I don't feel like it, so I'll leave it at that. ;)

SLM

Questions about the worth of anything must always be answered by first answering "worth it to who?" So far as we know, even the brightest of animals have little (even using "little" rather than "no" is arguable) concept of the worth of anything. How can we know, since we can't communicate with them? A few animals elephants seem to congregate around a dead fellow for a bit, and appear concerned or even upset, but most seem to have no concept whatsoever of death. I mother lion whose cub has just been killed by hyaenas just goes off and resumes business as usual. So what can we say about animals' concepts of the worth of anything? Hardly anything, I think. And it's obvious that whatever concept of "worth" predators may have, as regards other animals it's only so far as they can eat them. In this respect I see little difference between them and insects as far as "worth" is concerned.

Suffering is another matter. We know very well that so-called higher animals like mammals suffer pain, and since we as humans don't like pain, we usually have sympathy for animals in obvious pain. But for the half billion years during which macroscopic life has dominated life on earth, nature hasn't paid any attention to pain and suffering. So I don't think that defining "worth" in terms of apparent ability to suffer pain is a good idea.

But in the final analysis, almost all humans know intuitively (obviously from the human standpoint) that humans are worth more than animals. If you're a mother, and were given the choice between seeing your child die and seeing a thousand cats die, which would you choose?

AlanF

rem

Alan, you're such a speciesist! :)

rem

AlanF

That I am. I just ate a raw cat for lunch.

AlanF

Sunnygal41

Realist, being part native-american and walking that path with heart and soul, I can only say that there is NO difference between us and the animals..............mitakayu Oyasin.............we are all related............

Terri Crowe Blue Raven Perry

rem

>>If you're a mother, and were given the choice between seeing your child die and seeing a thousand cats die, which would you choose?

Ah, but what if the choice was between 1,000 Osama Bin Ladens and one hairless kitty?

To me, not *all* human life is worth more than animals. ;)

rem

Realist

TD and alan,

sorry i though it was clear that i mean worth to us since there is no other species (or higher itelligence) that could ask that question.

also of course you have a special relation to your offspring...this has little to do with an objective "validation".

so the true question is...can we justify our laws towards animals if we cannot state objectively that we are worth more than them?

BeautifulGarbage

Yeah, but can they bake great chocolate chip cookies??

!

TD

sorry i though it was clear that i mean worth to us......so the true question is...can we justify our laws towards animals if we cannot state objectively that we are worth more than them?

Like the question of "worth," when you speak of justifying something, I think an unspecified proposition and integral component of the answer is, "Justified to whom?"

If we as human beings are the authority assessing the "worth" of animal life, and it is under this rubric that we may justify our actions, (apparently to ourselves) then I don't think there is a dilemma

question: why are humans worth more than animals?

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