Humans have more worth than other animals?

[Ashoka]

He wisely thought an independent thread would be best.

Actually I'm a girl

Suppose you have a chance to save your child or
pet dog from death. Would you treat them equally?

I would. Their equality isn't diminished because of my maternal instincts to save my child first. If possible, I would go back to rescue my dog.

I have two cats, and they are family. I would absolutely risk my life to save them.

 

[Revoltingest]

I would find an alternate means to protect the human. I find it morally questionable to sacrifice the life of a dog to save a human given the dog has no say in the matter.

That's where we differ.
Pigs have no say in becoming pulled pork.
This is acceptable to me.

Would you use a human to protect another human if the first human was unable to communicate their wishes?

There is no answer to a question lacking specifics.
But this muddies the water. I see no equivalence
between an animal & a non-communicative human.

 

[Ashoka]

That's where we differ.
Pigs have no say in becoming pulled pork.
This is acceptable to me.

And I guess this is where we disagree as well; the pig should have a say. Not "say" as in "speak" but it should be considered that, like all living things, the pig wants to live. It has every right to be on this earth as I do, or you do. So I guess I am asking, why can't we see our place in nature, as being another animal that simply wants to live? If I don't have to kill it to survive, why would I?

But then, you have to keep in mind, I am a vegetarian/on her way to becoming a vegan again. I don't see the need to consume animals or use animal products.

 

[Revoltingest]

Actually I'm a girl

Oops!
Ashoka is a male in the Dilbert comic strip.

I would. Their equality isn't diminished because of my maternal instincts to save my child first. If possible, I would go back to rescue my dog.

I have two cats, and they are family. I would absolutely risk my life to save them.

Woohoo!
I agree with saving the child first.

 

[Nakosis]

Humans are animals. We share the earth with other animals. Yet, some believe that humans have more inherent worth than other animals. I'm curious to y'all's opinions. What do you believe, how do you see it?

I see us all as sharing the same earth and having the same worth. We aren't any better than any other animal on earth. Having a hierarchy has hurt us, as we abuse animals and put them in factory farms. We see them as less, so mistreating them isn't that big of a deal.

Thoughts? Am I totally wrong? Right? Lemme know!

Sure, humans have no greater worth but that is not saying much.
Life is fleeting.

 

[Revoltingest]

And I guess this is where we disagree as well; the pig should have a say. Not "say" as in "speak" but it should be considered that, like all living things, the pig wants to live. It has every right to be on this earth as I do, or you do. So I guess I am asking, why can't we see our place in nature, as being another animal that simply wants to live? If I don't have to kill it to survive, why would I?

But then, you have to keep in mind, I am a vegetarian/on her way to becoming a vegan again. I don't see the need to consume animals or use animal products.

You seem a kind & caring person.
I'm less so. Animals may die for my use.
But I favor treating them as humanely as
is practical.

 

[Augustus]

Humans are animals. We share the earth with other animals. Yet, some believe that humans have more inherent worth than other animals. I'm curious to y'all's opinions. What do you believe, how do you see it?

I see us all as sharing the same earth and having the same worth. We aren't any better than any other animal on earth. Having a hierarchy has hurt us, as we abuse animals and put them in factory farms. We see them as less, so mistreating them isn't that big of a deal.

Thoughts? Am I totally wrong? Right? Lemme know!

I agree as a goal or normative statement you can say humans have no more worth than other animals.

In practical terms though, we all tacitly accept humans have more value and it can never be otherwise.

For example:

Do you view someone who kills an ant the same as you view a child murderer?

Seeing as human life is destroying much of nature, would you support a policy exterminating 99% of humanity as being morally desirable as it would undoubtedly help animals?

 

[Ashoka]

Seeing as human life is destroying much of nature, would you support a policy exterminating 99% of humanity as being morally desirable as it would undoubtedly help animals?

That's eco-facism, so no. Better education about how to take care of the earth and its inhabitants is crucial.

Do you view someone who kills an ant the same as you view a child murderer?

No. But again, as humans we are hardwired to care for our own species first. It's not bad, by any means, but if you have a chance to be kind, be kind. So I would say, instead of killing the ant, or spider, put it outside (unless you have an infestation of course, in which case, sadly, you don't really have a choice.)

You seem a kind & caring person.

I try.

 

[Revoltingest]

I try.

There is no try.
You just are.

 

[Nimos]

Woohoo!
I agree with saving the child first.

Now do you....Which would you save first?

VS

 

[Revoltingest]

Now do you....Which would you save first?

View attachment 60788 VS

Let the bacon fry.
I'd save the kid...even if it's a commie.

 

[Augustus]

That's eco-facism, so no. Better education about how to take care of the earth and its inhabitants is crucial.

No. But again, as humans we are hardwired to care for our own species first. It's not bad, by any means, but if you have a chance to be kind, be kind. So I would say, instead of killing the ant, or spider, put it outside (unless you have an infestation of course, in which case, sadly, you don't really have a choice.)

These really say your view is that you value human life more than animals, but we should do our very best to minimise the harms we do to other species.

And there is nothing wrong with that.

 

[SalixIncendium]

That's where we differ.
Pigs have no say in becoming pulled pork.
This is acceptable to me.

Not to me. This is why I choose to be vegetarian.

 

[Nimos]

Let the bacon fry.
I'd save the kid...even if it's a commie.

But you are leaving the bacon without any chance, think about it, the baby might be able to crawl away, the bacon is going to get burned

 

[Sand Dancer]

Humans are animals. We share the earth with other animals. Yet, some believe that humans have more inherent worth than other animals. I'm curious to y'all's opinions. What do you believe, how do you see it?

I see us all as sharing the same earth and having the same worth. We aren't any better than any other animal on earth. Having a hierarchy has hurt us, as we abuse animals and put them in factory farms. We see them as less, so mistreating them isn't that big of a deal.

Thoughts? Am I totally wrong? Right? Lemme know!

When natural disasters affect us as much as animals, we know that the earth was not created just for humans.

 

[Revoltingest]

Not to me. This is why I choose to be vegetarian.

The beauty of personal choice, eh.
I won't impose my meaty tastes upon you.
But I reserve the right to enjoy vegan fare.

 

[Revoltingest]

But you are leaving the bacon without any chance, think about it, the baby might be able to crawl away, the bacon is going to get burned

Bacon is readily available at Menards.

 

[Twilight Hue]

I rank some animals (using the term to mean non-human)
above some people. Whales, & great apes are valuable.
Their survival is more valuable than the survival of some
humans IMO.
But I still see using K9s to make lives safer for humans
as ethical. Train them, use them, & don't mis-treat them.

I'm curious what animal is next in line to actually be sapient.

 

[Revoltingest]

I'm curious what animal is next in line to actually be sapient.

Elephants.

 

[Heyo]

And I guess this is where we disagree as well; the pig should have a say. Not "say" as in "speak" but it should be considered that, like all living things, the pig wants to live. It has every right to be on this earth as I do, or you do. So I guess I am asking, why can't we see our place in nature, as being another animal that simply wants to live? If I don't have to kill it to survive, why would I?

But then, you have to keep in mind, I am a vegetarian/on her way to becoming a vegan again. I don't see the need to consume animals or use animal products.

Would this be a solution?