In Jeremy Rifkin's article titled A Change of Heart about Animals, he argues
that animals are more similar to us than we have ever imagined. Scientists have
discovered that animals do feel love, excitement, and pain just as we do. With
examples presented such as pigs crave affection and crows and gorillas are very
smart. Yet some philosophers believe that animals do not have any self-awareness
because they lack individualism, they come to find out that that statement is
false. When a mirror was put in front of an animal they searched themselves for
the parts that they could not see, showing individualism. The one point that
supposedly divides us is morning. Animals do not seem to have a sense or knowledge of
death, including their own. But studies show that that is not true because
elephants stand next to their dead offspring and touch them with their trunks.
It is also shown that animals, when happy or pleased, release dopamine.
Scientists also believed that some traits animals have were genetically wired
and that they were sheer instinct, when in reality they are learned behaviors
that are passed down from parent to offspring. All of these examples show how
animals are more similar to us than I thought. Proposing the questions of whether
we should add animal rights into the constitution and should we change the way
we treat animals. In my opinion animals should not be treated in a harmful
manner if it is not necessary. I do believe that animals should still be used
as a food source because that is where we get our protein and other nutrients,
just as they do when they eat other animals. So no we don’t have to become
vegans, but we should still be considerate because they having feelings as
well. So go ahead and eat that burger and chicken strips because you need the protein,
but don’t buy that fur coat because that isn’t a necessity in your life. And
there shouldn’t be a law in the constitution because people eat animals for survival.
But that doesn’t mean you have to harm a live animal just for your personal pleasure.
Be smart, be kind, and be considerate when it comes to animal rights. Know the difference between harming for materialistic wants, and harming for food needs.
I found it interesting how we never really go into depth of animals and animals rights, until we started reading the packet that was assigned to us. I don't think much of us are aware of how animals are somewhat closely alike to humans. We just see animals as animals. But they are an amazing species that we don't focus on because they are like you said our nutrient and protein providers. I agree with you that we shouldn't really add animals right to the constitution because, they aren't aware that they might be hurting something like for say a human. Rather we should just take animals more into consideration. Like the no fur that you brought up. Real fur isn't necessary to be purchasing fake fur still looks fabulous as well.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you especially when you said that we should use animals for necessity such as our food because that is in fact where we get our protein and nutrients. You are 100% when you said that we shouldn't use animals for things that are not important to us like those nutrients because a fur coat is useless and an animal should not be killed just to make a coat unless it has already been killed then at that point I guess it would be fine. I think that animal rights should be included in the constitution though because then maybe people would care more.
ReplyDeleteComing from someone who loves to eat and try new foods, I could never change my lifestyle and go vegetarian. This isn't to bash on those who have, but by my choice, it's something I couldn't change. It's true that animals are our food source; long before you and I were born, in the age of the vikings and cavemen, meat was our go-to source. One similarity between us and animals is that we look to animals for food, animals look to other animals for food. This is something we need to survive. Like you said, there is a difference between wants and needs. We need to know our limits and the difference between what is necessary and what is absolutely ridiculous.
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