One of the most interesting aspects of the anime Brand New Animal was when the avian hybrids noted they did their best to fight to be recognized as 'persons', but when they finally won that fight it had unintended consequences. They could no longer fly over the boarders of countries unimpeded by the bureaucracies that those who had to utilize the mechanical planes were forced to utilize.
In essence, they assumed being considered legally a person would lead them to freedom, but it actually took away freedoms that they already when they were legally defined as animals.
Similarly, while we look at animals in cages, humans are also in cages. But there are no bars. They are defined by words and concepts rather than physical implementation. And those that can't follow those concepts, well then they get to find themselves within a system more geared towards the physical form of restrictions.
What I'm trying to say is while this article does lean on 'why don't humans treat animals with the same dignity they treat humans', it ignores a simple question: 'do humans treat other humans with dignity?' It's hard for me to see "us" treating non-humans with dignity if "we" are unable to do that to our fellow congnites.
Or in short, the infographic above I find to not be quite accurate. If humans comprise 34% of the Earth's biomass, then the amount of asses that comprise the biomass must be far greater than 1%.
One of the most interesting aspects of the anime Brand New Animal was when the avian hybrids noted they did their best to fight to be recognized as 'persons', but when they finally won that fight it had unintended consequences. They could no longer fly over the boarders of countries unimpeded by the bureaucracies that those who had to utilize the mechanical planes were forced to utilize.
In essence, they assumed being considered legally a person would lead them to freedom, but it actually took away freedoms that they already when they were legally defined as animals.
Similarly, while we look at animals in cages, humans are also in cages. But there are no bars. They are defined by words and concepts rather than physical implementation. And those that can't follow those concepts, well then they get to find themselves within a system more geared towards the physical form of restrictions.
What I'm trying to say is while this article does lean on 'why don't humans treat animals with the same dignity they treat humans', it ignores a simple question: 'do humans treat other humans with dignity?' It's hard for me to see "us" treating non-humans with dignity if "we" are unable to do that to our fellow congnites.
Or in short, the infographic above I find to not be quite accurate. If humans comprise 34% of the Earth's biomass, then the amount of asses that comprise the biomass must be far greater than 1%.