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I am a vegetarian, and I believe all life has value, except...
Humans are more powerful than animals. Also, they have better decision making skills. It is their responsibility to take care of animals, not vice versa. Animals are not as smart as humans. Therefore, humans are supreme.
Have you seen people texting? Driving like maniacs? Animals do none of these, and are therefore better at making decisions.
"It is their responsibility to take care of animals, not vice versa."
Wild animals seems to fend for themselves just fine.
" Animals are not as smart as humans. Therefore, humans are supreme."
So intelligence is the deciding factor for you? Did you know that there is only a small difference in intelligence between chimpanzee, bonobo monkeys, and humans?
"Bonobos and chimpanzees look very similar and both share 98.7% of their DNA with humans—making the two species our closest living relatives. " WWF
"In the laboratory the apes have been able to learn sign language and to recognize themselves in a mirror, a sign of self-awareness not yet demonstrated in monkeys. " Frans B. M. de Waal
"Here are 10 animals with self awareness according to the mirror test today." Rebecca Turner
So, basically your stating might makes right. That humans are more powerful than animals, which makes them supreme, and therefore humans can use animals in any way they please?
I reject your notion of what appears to be might makes right. If that's what you believe, then adult men should also be able to do use women and children like tools. Woman and children need to be respected.
But that is not what I am saying. Animals are life too. They can not be mistreated. However, humans are more intelligent than them and have to make sure that what people do does not affect animals.
Also, remember. I'm vegetarian and can argue both sides. I am not as extreme as you think
"But that is not what I am saying. Animals are life too. They can not be mistreated." Shaash
Sounds like you are agreeing with me. By conceding this point, you are effectively stating that animals should at least some rights. For, example the right against needless suffering.
"However, humans are more intelligent than them and have to make sure that what people do does not affect animals." Shaash
You seem to be arguing for my side. By giving animals certain protection, like endangered species being protected under the law, you are making an argument that animals are only slightly inferior to humans as opposed to humans being supreme.
Nevertheless, you are still making an argument that animals are inferior, which goes against my side of the debate, that humans and animals are equal.
Humans maybe intelligent, but they often lack kindness and mercy. Twice as much brain but half a serving of heart. Humans' intellect is clearly demonstrated by rockets, satellites, computers, genetic engineering an so forth.
Yet, humans seem to lack compassion. Demonstrated by all the wars, factory farms, animal testing, holocausts, and so forth. I present that intelligence alone does not make humans supreme.
"The discovery and development of new medicines, vaccines and medical devices for people and animals is a long and complex process with a number of stages, many of which involve animal experiments. National and international regulations currently require that new medicines are tested on animals before being licensed for use. Around 5 million animals including mice, rats, fish, chickens, rabbits, dogs and primates are used across the EU for this purpose each year."
"Also, remember. I'm vegetarian and can argue both sides. I am not as extreme as you think" Shaash
That's part of the reason I'm attacking your argument and not you directly.
I like your argument. However, I have some different views.
Yet, humans seem to lack compassion. Demonstrated by all the wars, factory farms, animal testing, holocausts, and so forth. I present that intelligence alone does not make humans supreme.
It is true, some people are VERY bad people. BUT I believe there are A LOT more compassionate, good people on the Earth than bad people.
Animals eat other animals. Animals fight one another for territory. Some animals eat their kids. Most do not, and some care deeply about their family.
And the difference between animals and people is, animals do all of this instinctively. Humans do this out of anger, fear, or ignorance (bot instinctively). Also, they are connected globally so others help them make rational decisions.
I believe if a lion kills a person, it should be left free in the wild. However, if a person kills a lion (on purpose) they should go to jail.
Lions eat people because their hungry or scared. Humans kill lions because they are greedy. However, humans know better than to kill defenseless animals with a gun. This is why we are better than animals. The majority of us knows when someone is doing something wrong and we attack them for it. Animals are not connected in this way and don't have the seem ability to discriminate between right and wrong.
"The discovery and development of new medicines, vaccines and medical devices for people and animals is a long and complex process with a number of stages, many of which involve animal experiments. National and international regulations currently require that new medicines are tested on animals before being licensed for use. Around 5 million animals including mice, rats, fish, chickens, rabbits, dogs and primates are used across the EU for this purpose each year."
I support this type of animal testing. If we don't test it on animals, we will have to test it on humans. And if we test it on humans, someone may die.
A human life is worth more to me than an animal life because I am a human. Animals wouldn't sacrifice themselves for us, so why should we for them? Also, animals like mice and rats aren't very family oriented and would rather eat cheese themselves than share it. These animals have less attachment and do not grieve for one another after death. Their lives are less meaningful than a human's. If I had to sacrifice a dog to save a human, I would.
"Animals are not connected in this way and don't have the seem ability to discriminate between right and wrong." Shaash
Agreed, animals do not seem capable of following human morals and ethics.
" If we don't test it on animals, we will have to test it on humans. And if we test it on humans, someone may die. "
True, but why not test on willing volunteers, criminals, the elderly, the mentally handicapped? Also, some tests are on animals are performed to test cosmetic products and other luxuries. Not only that but some of these tests could be performed without animals nor humans.
"Victoria’s Secret was once on PETA’s list of companies that proudly did not test on animals, but it seems the company has reneged on its promise. Companies in China pay for cruel testing tactics, such as dripping harsh chemicals onto the eyes and skin of animals to see how they react. Despite the fact that scientific breakthroughs have led to other alternatives to testing on animals, Chinese officials still refuse to incorporate these studies into their requirements." forcechange
"A human life is worth more to me than an animal life because I am a human."
So based solely on that animals are a different species than you, humans are supreme?
"These animals have less attachment and do not grieve for one another after death."
Some animals grieve for a dead relative. Elephants for example.
"However, research and observation has proven that elephants are indeed capable of many complex functions of thought and feeling. There have been many observations of elephants grieving. In Joyce Poole's Coming of Age with Elephants, a situation is described where a mother elephant is seen grieving over her stillborn baby for a few days. This mother physical stature was observed as slumped, appeared to be crying, while trying to revive her baby. " elephant
"Their lives are less meaningful than a human's." Shaash
These animals have less attachment and do not grieve for one another after death.
I was talking about mice and rats
True, but why not test on willing volunteers, criminals, the elderly, the mentally handicapped? Also, some tests are on animals are performed to test cosmetic products and other luxuries. Not only that but some of these tests could be performed without animals nor humans.
This is very extreme! I hope you don't mean what you said! You can't threaten the life of a person unless they are willing to be tested on! Especially handicaps! I care for humans more than animals because I am a human. I know if a human suffers their families, friends, and peers will suffer also. Mice would suffer less, they would move on quickly.
If there are better ways to test medicines, it should be used. But people can not be tested on!
