66. Isn't it pointless to consider humans and animals as equal creatures?

66. Isn't it pointless to consider humans and animals as equal creatures?

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Of course, animals and humans are not the same in everything (and there is virtually no single section in the animal liberation that would be telling otherwise). But it would not be okay for us to take precedence over them. It is worth recalling here the words of the well-known English humanist and reformer Jeremy Bentham: “The question is not: Can they think?, nor: Can they speak ?, but: Can they suffer?”

 

 

 

This is the central idea for justifying the meaning and necessity of full and comprehensive recognition of "animal rights”. However, it is necessary to go even further and ask the question: If we knew that some animal, or any other form of life, does not feel pain, would this consciousness give us the right to destroy such a life unnecessarily? Definitely not! The value of life is not measured only by whether or not a being feels pain - life has value by its very nature - simply because IT IS! For example, if any of us had a disease that made it impossible for us to feel physical pain, we would also not want anyone else to unnecessarily restrict us because of it, or to perceive us as inferior! And let's not forget that there is also mental and social pain!

It is also important to remember that just as man “surpasses” animals in some of his qualities, it is often true other way around. For example, an eagle has a much better vision than us humans, a cheetah is a faster runner, a dog has a more developed sense of smell, a monkey is more agile and so on. Animals also have a more developed kind of feeling than we humans. In short, the man is NOT better developed than animals in many ways! This awakens humility and admiration in us for the whole animal kingdom!

 

 

 

Animals may not have the same type of human thinking, but that does not justify us humiliating them or killing them in slaughterhouses. Of course, animals cannot vote in political elections or, for example, be educated in human disciplines, but some people with serious mental disorders cannot do that either, and yet we do not humiliate them.

 

So, the value of life is not determined by the IQ coefficient! This is an absolutely fundamental idea!

 

 

 

Recognition of the same right to life for all comes precisely from respect for diversity, rather than not from the condition of equality!!! It is good to think and feel this profoundly.

 

After all, there are even big differences between people - some are smaller, some are bigger, some are healthy, some are sick, some have graduated from university and others have no school education, etc. Yet, we know that all people have the same rights despite all their differences.

 

 

 

So, what could justify the cruelty and killing of animals by humans? Maybe a different number of legs? A different body shape? A different way of communication? NO! There is nothing that justifies human misbehaviour towards animals!

 

 

 

In terms of desire to fulfil our basic needs of life and in the ability to feel (in some form) hopelessness on the one hand and a sense of security on the other, we humans are equal with animals! And this is the basic idea for giving up eating meat, eggs and milk in our diet. However, as we have indicated above, this idea needs to be further developed and felt.

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