RE: Humans = Animals

[Guest guest]

the fact is that we are animals. we just are. as fellow members of animalia, i think it would come as a great benefit to everyone to consider the implications of our biological classification. i advocate the sameness because it is so stark in every natural way. the functions of our bodies (the nervous system, especially-- the reception of harmful actions as pain) and other overwhelming biological similarities (and here i mean mostly other mammalian animals) dwarf our possession of any superior cognitive faculties. instead of asking other humans to be so far advanced as to look down and show compassion on those lesser beings for reasons of benevolent impunity (which appeals to many, i'm sure), i'm also offering the option of feeling compassion from a "common roots" standpoint, validating the golden rule "how would i feel?" approach we learned in preschool with hard-to-dismiss evidence that we all (animals) take a branding or a caging or a cauterizing of the mouthparts in the same way: with emotional and physical strain that we (humans) alone don't monopolize. famous psychologist Skinner believed that (human) emotions are only a function of need, not existing other than to serve some biological requirement. most people (humans) would disagree with skinner, thus validating their own feelings, but at the same time dismiss complex emotions in the other animals. almost all biologists and behavioral analysts of non-humans follow the same thoughts skinner had, applied this time, though, solely to animals who're not human. parental care exhibited by other animals is not called love, though humans' behaving in the same way are said to be showing love for their young. [anyone whom this interests should read when elephants weep by jeffrey moussaieff masson and susan mccarthy--it's relievingly light with the scientific nomenclature; very readable] as a human, i am confident that i have a better concept of the double entendre and algorism than other animals could at this time, but i don't necessarily assume that i am alone in that flippy feeling my stomach makes when i look at my boyfriend's face as he smiles. ~~brii

>lv2breathe > > >CC: Lv2breathe > Re: Humans animals >Thu, 8 Apr 2004 13:09:22 EDT > >In a message dated 4/7/04 1:11:30 PM Pacific Daylight Time, > writes: >those whom most humans keep as pets and eat are people, too. it's dangerous >to distance ourselves too much from animals, because we are animals. >(fraggle, i know that isn't what you meant; i just wanted to remind everyone that >"person" and "animal" are interchangeable....and it is a crazy world)

>I love animals to death (not literally, of course) and do my part to reduce >their suffering...but I would never say we are animals. We have an ability to >make choices, moral choices and do so much more. This is not an intent to put >down animals at all...but animals often have little control over what they >do...but we do. For example...can your dog just decide to be vegetarian like >us? I just think we are very different and have different roles to play in this >life. But despite all this, I think animals are add a lot of interest and >love in our lives and are a definite blessing. > > I think this attitude that "we are all animals" is so foreign to most people >they will not be able to relate to us or our cause. I am not sure it is >helpful for us or the animals to put it out there. Just my opinion. Check out MSN PC Safety Security to help ensure your PC is protected and safe.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 4/11/04 12:49:58 AM Pacific Daylight Time, phytoscarfingsimianpod writes:

[anyone whom this interests should read when elephants weep by jeffrey moussaieff masson and susan mccarthy--it's relievingly light with the scientific nomenclature; very readable

a very good read indeed