In this letter I will like to respond to A change of heart about animals by Jeremy Rifkin. Where he explains and provides facts to make the argument that we should take steps and measures to provide animals more rights. And overall I completely agree that we should move forward in animal rights and help our fellow creatures. We should especially focus on trying to protect them from any pain or suffering that could be inflicted upon them by humans for any reason. Such as running experiments or raising animals in inhuman condition. After all it is pretty easy for any pet owner to agree with the statement of “Anyone who has owned a pet knows that animals can feel pain, happiness, anger and other simple emotions” (Stevens). And there are several
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Because the truth is they are not “…more like us than we imagined” (Rifkins). It is true there are studies showing that animals are more advanced than we give them credit for but they are still not at our level of intelligence. It is especially not fair that we give all credit to animals based off of a few. “Koko…was taught sign language and has mastered more than 1,000 signs” (Rifkins). and “Chantek … used a mirror to groom his teeth and adjust his glasses” (Rifkins), these two both did things that makes them see more human but are felines or birds able learn some of our language to communicate or are they able to even recognize themselves in a mirror. Well not all animals are able to recognize themselves in the mirror, not even all primates are able to recognize themselves as stated by______“Animals which have passed the mirror test are common chimpanzees, bonobos, orangutans, dolphins, elephants, humans and possibly pigeons.” (CITE) the only exception being an ape named Koko.
Does this mean we shouldn’t give rights or assist other creatures that don’t have self-awareness? I believe we should help them regardless of their intelligence or similarities between us. Instead of trying to help animals because they are equal to us we should try to help animals because we are morally obligated to due to us being above them. We should help each other not because we are similar but because we can and just
Because the truth is they are not “…more like us than we imagined” (Rifkins). It is true there are studies showing that animals are more advanced than we give them credit for but they are still not at our level of intelligence. It is especially not fair that we give all credit to animals based off of a few. “Koko…was taught sign language and has mastered more than 1,000 signs” (Rifkins). and “Chantek … used a mirror to groom his teeth and adjust his glasses” (Rifkins), these two both did things that makes them see more human but are felines or birds able learn some of our language to communicate or are they able to even recognize themselves in a mirror. Well not all animals are able to recognize themselves in the mirror, not even all primates are able to recognize themselves as stated by______“Animals which have passed the mirror test are common chimpanzees, bonobos, orangutans, dolphins, elephants, humans and possibly pigeons.” (CITE) the only exception being an ape named Koko.
Does this mean we shouldn’t give rights or assist other creatures that don’t have self-awareness? I believe we should help them regardless of their intelligence or similarities between us. Instead of trying to help animals because they are equal to us we should try to help animals because we are morally obligated to due to us being above them. We should help each other not because we are similar but because we can and just