Hi, Susan,
I want to say first of all that I was never trying to argue that humans are more important than animals. That's not what I believe. And I definitely was never trying to argue that animals shouldn't be protected from abuses and atrocities. I tried to make that very clear. What I was saying in the sentence of mine that you quoted was only that an argument like this one:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Susan9608  Non human animals also have the ability to experience pain and fear. Has anyone ever proven that a plant has those capabilities. Plants lack the organized central nervous system, neurotransmitters, and receptors to even send pain signals, much less have a "brain" that can experience something as complex as emotions. |
is very similar to an argument like "people are worth more than other animals because they're smarter." What difference does it make whether plants have nervous systems or whether they feel or whether they love? What difference does it make if cats love but houseflies don't? What difference does it make if pigs are smarter than chickens? What difference does it make if humans have more complex emotions than iguanas?
I don't think I am like the speaker in hydrohoki's amusing satire. And I understand that most of the people on this forum probably hear things similar to his satire frequently (only by people who aren't trying to be satirical). I think the difference is that most people who say such things are mocking, or discounting the importance of your causes, or justifying turning a blind eye to cruelty. I think most of them are trying to justify a belief that humans are all that matters.
I am not doing any of those things. I'm expressing a belief that the answer to my questions above is "no difference at all." I believe all life is equally valuable. You believe in a bond among animals of all kinds. I respect that. I believe in a bond among all life of all kinds, and the elements and minerals and other natural things that sustain it.
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Originally Posted by Susan9608 I just don't understand how anyone can compare plants to animals, no matter how "gentle" their spinach may be. How often does that spinach show you affection? Actually, how often does the spinach do *anything* except sit in the dirt and just grow? it has no real survival instinct ... no sense of fear ... nothing ... nothing at all. |
Do you want to understand? I tried to explain some of why I make the comparison already. If you want to understand more, I'd be happy to try and explain more. But I have a strong feeling you don't want to understand. That's okay, too. I think I understand your viewpoint. I also thing we have lots of common ground. None of what I said stops me from being a strong proponent of animal welfare, just as my belief that human life is not more valuable than plant life doesn't stop me from believing that it's not okay for people to beat (or eat) their children.