Freethought & Rationalism Archive

GeoTheo · 10-29-2002, 04:50 PM

I am curious what the aplication is to this belief.

vixstile · 10-29-2002, 05:08 PM

Many environmentalist take this to mean that animals are superior to humans.

I think whole the human/animal dichotomy is nonsense. Humans are animals, and we and our cities are just as much part of the ecosystem as a flock of birds or a colony of ants, and we have just as much of a right to exist.

Kosmon · 10-29-2002, 07:03 PM

Humans are obviously animals, but whoever is bold enough to state that we are not superior has another thing coming.

Doubting Didymus · 10-29-2002, 07:30 PM

I guess I have another thing coming.

'Superior' is not the most objective term, is it? Are we better because we have bigger brains? Are we better because we have built cities? Dare you suggest that no other animal is as kind? Only when you define the term, can you may make statements about it.

Geo: there is not much practical application to this belief other than to curb the practical applications of the alternate belief. The suggestion that humans are not inherently better than animals only really means that we should stop acting like we are. It suggests that we should not veiw the world and the species therein as being for our personal use. We have the ability to expliot animals, but we do not have an inherent right to it unless we can justify that.

vixstile · 10-29-2002, 09:00 PM

I will grant that humans have no inherent right to exploit non-humans, but i does not follow that we shouldn't exploit non-humans, because non-humans have no inherent right to not be exploited.

[ October 29, 2002: Message edited by: vixstile ]</p>

Amen-Moses · 10-30-2002, 03:54 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by vixstile:
I will grant that humans have no inherent right to exploit non-humans, but i does not follow that we shouldn't exploit non-humans, because non-humans have no inherent right to not be exploited.

Nothing has an inherent right to not be exploited becasue there are no such things as inherent rights outside of human ethical constructs.

Amen-Moses

Marduk · 10-30-2002, 06:29 AM

Oh...here we go again........

vixstile · 10-30-2002, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Amen-Moses:
<strong>Nothing has an inherent right to not be exploited because there are no such things as inherent rights outside of human ethical constructs.

Amen-Moses</strong>

I agree

B34RZ0R · 10-30-2002, 07:58 AM

I believe that we are animals...
Very destructive ones at that!!!
(and I am not some Uber Left Wing tree huggin hippy) But I do find it amazing that we just destroy the natural world around us without any real thoughts for the future...
Read this if you have some spare time

<a href="http://www.well.com/user/davidu/extinction.html" target="_blank">http://www.well.com/user/davidu/extinction.html</a>

*UGH* I love it when I hear how intelligent we are

Be Well
*Bear*

B34RZ0R · 10-30-2002, 08:21 AM

I believe that we are animals...
Very destructive ones at that!!!
(and I am not some Uber Left Wing tree huggin hippy) But I do find it amazing that we just destroy the natural world around us without any real thoughts for the future...
Read this if you have some spare time

<a href="http://www.well.com/user/davidu/extinction.html" target="_blank">http://www.well.com/user/davidu/extinction.html</a>

*UGH* I love it when I hear how intelligent we are

Be Well
*Bear*

10-29-2002, 04:50 PM	#1
GeoTheo Veteran Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Bemidji Posts: 1,197	Humans are not superior over other animals therefore... I am curious what the aplication is to this belief.

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10-29-2002, 05:08 PM	#2
vixstile Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: California Posts: 2,029	Many environmentalist take this to mean that animals are superior to humans. I think whole the human/animal dichotomy is nonsense. Humans are animals, and we and our cities are just as much part of the ecosystem as a flock of birds or a colony of ants, and we have just as much of a right to exist.

10-29-2002, 07:03 PM	#3
Kosmon Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 7	Humans are obviously animals, but whoever is bold enough to state that we are not superior has another thing coming.

10-29-2002, 07:30 PM	#4
Doubting Didymus Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: East Coast. Australia. Posts: 5,455	I guess I have another thing coming. 'Superior' is not the most objective term, is it? Are we better because we have bigger brains? Are we better because we have built cities? Dare you suggest that no other animal is as kind? Only when you define the term, can you may make statements about it. Geo: there is not much practical application to this belief other than to curb the practical applications of the alternate belief. The suggestion that humans are not inherently better than animals only really means that we should stop acting like we are. It suggests that we should not veiw the world and the species therein as being for our personal use. We have the ability to expliot animals, but we do not have an inherent right to it unless we can justify that.

10-29-2002, 09:00 PM	#5
vixstile Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: California Posts: 2,029	I will grant that humans have no inherent right to exploit non-humans, but i does not follow that we shouldn't exploit non-humans, because non-humans have no inherent right to not be exploited. [ October 29, 2002: Message edited by: vixstile ]</p>

10-30-2002, 06:29 AM	#7
Marduk Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: the 10th planet Posts: 5,065	Oh...here we go again........

10-30-2002, 07:58 AM	#9
B34RZ0R Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Lost in the Ether, Minnesota Posts: 1,436	I believe that we are animals... Very destructive ones at that!!! (and I am not some Uber Left Wing tree huggin hippy) But I do find it amazing that we just destroy the natural world around us without any real thoughts for the future... Read this if you have some spare time <a href="http://www.well.com/user/davidu/extinction.html" target="_blank">http://www.well.com/user/davidu/extinction.html</a> UGH I love it when I hear how intelligent we are Be Well Bear

10-30-2002, 08:21 AM	#10
B34RZ0R Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Lost in the Ether, Minnesota Posts: 1,436	I believe that we are animals... Very destructive ones at that!!! (and I am not some Uber Left Wing tree huggin hippy) But I do find it amazing that we just destroy the natural world around us without any real thoughts for the future... Read this if you have some spare time <a href="http://www.well.com/user/davidu/extinction.html" target="_blank">http://www.well.com/user/davidu/extinction.html</a> UGH I love it when I hear how intelligent we are Be Well Bear

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