I THOUGHT THIS VIDEO WOULD ADD A LITTLE HUMOR AND LIGHT-HEARTEDNESS TO THE CONVERSATION.
I think I may have finally come to a conclusion about my feelings toward animals, specifically animals that we breed for our own uses, and whether or not our actions are a representation of survival of the fittest.
First off, in order to come to such realizations, I had to remind myself that humans are “living creatures”[1], and thus animals. We are in the same category as the cows, pigs, and sheep that we slaughter. We “animals” all have the desire to reproduce, to find food and drink, to have shelter, and to sleep. However, despite our similarities to the brethren of our kingdom, there are quite a few drastic differences that set us apart.
WE MUST REMEMBER THAT AT ONE OF OUR MOST BASIC DEFINITIONS, WE ARE STILL JUST ANIMALS.
One main distinction between humans and non-human animals is that humans were given the talent of ingenuity and creative thinking ability. In fact, a human is defined as being “distinguished from animals by superior mental development, power of articulate speech, and upright posture.”[2] Even our posture symbolizes our higher level of sophistication. However, I feel that our greater thinking capacity is both a gift and a curse. While it, along with our opposable thumbs, has allowed us as a species to create great paintings, beautiful symphonies, a weeks worth of weather predictions, durable shelter, and endless means of entertainment, it has also brought about the creation of money, pollution, jobs, “being naked [and] knowing it”[3], ethics, and everything that complicates the necessities of life.
A DOG DOES NOT KNOW, NOR CARE, THAT IT IS "NAKED"...YET WE CLOTHE THEM ANYWAY.
Another byproduct of our higher intellect is how we have gone about the idea of survival of the fittest between species, namely our way of accumulating food. As humans, we weren’t blessed with the speed of a cheetah, the strong jaw of a lion, or the strength of a bear. These are all outstanding characteristics that enable these species to have a good chance at surviving. However, humans weren’t given any such remarkable physical trait. No—instead we were given the ability to outsmart animals, to create contraptions that would render their superior physical capabilities obsolete. Now, does this give our captured animals a fair chance? Of course not, but (as horrible as it sounds) nowhere in the description of survival of the fittest is the term “fair” mentioned. There also aren’t six billion cows in the world that need to be fed.
PHYSICALLY, WE DON'T STAND A CHANCE AGAINST LARGER ANIMALS. ONLY BY THE POWER OF OUR MIND ARE WE ABLE TO HOLD OUR OWN.
Despite our greater minds, I feel that most people do not possess “the power of projecting one’s personality into (and so fully comprehending) the object of contemplation.”[4] I have never been locked in a cage, seen a friend be killed, or experienced torture. I can only imagine that just the victims of genocide may ever know what these animals go through.
IT IS DIFFICULT TO HAVE EMPATHY FOR A CREATURE WITH WHICH ONE CANNOT COMMUNICATE OR RELATE TO.
Yet, because of this inability of ours, we tend to view other species as “vastly inferior”[5] and ourselves as “highly developed.”[6] Thankfully though, “no one can deny the suffering, fear or panic, the terror or fright that humans witness in certain animals.”[7] As a result of this fact, I would like to believe that those responsible for the death of animals make the process a “speedier, and by that means a less painful one than that which would await them in the inevitable course of nature.”[8] A certain movie, though, has shown me that such is not the case.
So, when it comes down to it, I definitely feel that there should be some serious reform in the treatment of animals, for we must remember that they aren’t that much different from us, though I don’t ever see myself giving up meat.
[1] Jacques Derrida, “The Animal That Therefore I Am (Following),” X34
[2] definition of “human”, Oxford English Dictionary, X36
[3] Jacques Derrida, “The Animal That Therefore I Am (Following),” X22
[4] definition of “empathy”, X45
[5] Philip K. Dick, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, 42
[6] Philip K. Dick, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, 42
[7] Jacques Derrida, “The Animal That Therefore I Am (Following),” X32
[8] Jeremy Bentham, “the Principles of Morals and Legislation”, X47
PHOTOS:
[1] goat/man, http://www.iwatchstuff.com/2007/09/24/narnia-goat-man.jpg
[2] dog with sweater, http://www.drsfostersmith.com/images/Categoryimages/normal/p-32521-41071P_013-dog.jpg
[3] bear, http://www.eteamz.com/MontgomeryLittleLeague/images/GrizzlyBear-scary.jpg
[4] empathy, http://www.catherinelazure.com/ImagesforWeb/Empathy3_99Lg.jpg
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