Makes you wonder how we humans can justify confining, controlling and otherwise harming non-humans given that our differences are clearly quantitative. Intelligence is often used as an excuse to do as we please to non-humans even though we generally claim not to make any moral distinction between dumb people and smart people.
In fact any characteristic believed to be uniquely human will exist in varying degrees among us, and in every case there will be some non-humans who possess that characteristic to a greater degree than do some humans. Justifying our exploitation of non-humans based on such a characteristic is inconsistent since most often those doing the justifying do not believe that exploiting humans who do not possess the chosen characteristic is justifiable. In the end our use can only be justified based on species, since non-humans are not members of our species we can treat them in anyway we see fit. Therefore, the act of suffering is of no concern unless those who are suffering are human.
The case of Santino is incredibly disturbing to me. Here we see an undeniable case of a non-human suffering. They are literally throwing stones at those that imprison them. We cause Santino harm because we want to profit from their confinement; because we derive pleasure from caging them and using them as entertainment. It's a pretty bleak world where their suffering can be brushed aside because they are not members of the dominant class.
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Their suffering is justified, we're taller than them
Date: 2009-03-09 06:47 pm (UTC)In fact any characteristic believed to be uniquely human will exist in varying degrees among us, and in every case there will be some non-humans who possess that characteristic to a greater degree than do some humans. Justifying our exploitation of non-humans based on such a characteristic is inconsistent since most often those doing the justifying do not believe that exploiting humans who do not possess the chosen characteristic is justifiable. In the end our use can only be justified based on species, since non-humans are not members of our species we can treat them in anyway we see fit. Therefore, the act of suffering is of no concern unless those who are suffering are human.
The case of Santino is incredibly disturbing to me. Here we see an undeniable case of a non-human suffering. They are literally throwing stones at those that imprison them. We cause Santino harm because we want to profit from their confinement; because we derive pleasure from caging them and using them as entertainment. It's a pretty bleak world where their suffering can be brushed aside because they are not members of the dominant class.
Sorry for the rant, this stuff pisses me off...