Lori Gruen: Why Do Animals Matter?

The two philosophers I explained above comes from both sides of the argument. Lori Gruen perspective shows how animals are sentimental and have interest and well-beings. On the other hand, Rene Descartes believes animals lack a mind and soul and you cannot harm them because they don't possess thoughts and feelings. Although, both Lori and Rene share the same passion they do not come across the same conclusion. If I was to ask them a series of questions on animal ethics there answers would be completely different. Why do animals matter? According to Ethics and animals published by Lori Geurin, animals are important. They are important to us because they help us define ourselves as human. The differences in animals help emphasize the similarities in humans. The father of modern philosophy will address this question differently. Rene Descartes says they are merely bodily and we can use them any kind of way we want. He states that we cannot have relationships with cell phones or backpacks so we cannot have a relationship with animals.
Animals cannot communicate with us. Is this a reason why they are not
moral creatures? Rene Descartes states that animals are not able to learn language. They are mechanical due to their inability to use language. Therefore, humans only deserve compassion. However, Lori Gruen, explains how all humans do not speak. Those who communicate with their gestures such as sign language allows them to speak to others. Chimpanzees and humans have similar hand ability. The cross-fostering challenge project was conducting in the 1960’s and it began to teach chimpanzees how to do sign language. The chimpanzees were both communicating and using language.
Does animals feel pain?
Why or why not? According to Lori, pain is not a reflex and involves both affective and sensory experiences. She is aware that pain can be a result from a stimulus. However, she explains pain to be subjective and we can not deny that others feel pain because we cannot feel it ourselves. She explains the psychological and behavioral evidence on how pain works. Rene Descartes says they cannot feel pain, hunger, or thirst. Animals does not posses sensations such as hunger and thirst. He explains squealing from pain as an reaction to a stimuli rather than actual pain. Hitting a dog is the input while the noise (squealing) is the output. As mention earlier, descartes believed animals are like machines. However, he thinks both animals and humans are machines made by God. Descartes is saying that you can not harm things that does not obtain
emotions.
The philosophical conversation of the good, true, and beautiful. Animal and ethics is more focused on the good aspect. This topic ties in with the good because it makes you question your morals. My personal thoughts on each subtopic varies. Animals are important to me because we rely on them for companionship. We coexist with animals and they have to resources to sustain the human race.
Animals can communicate with one another. The lack of communication with us does not mean they do not have their own language. People who cannot communicate are not considered animals or non-human. Lori’s example of chimpanzee learning sign language justified my perspective even more. In my opinion, animals does indeed feel pain. I agree with Rene Descartes explaining the input and output. On the other hand, wouldn't that make us the same way? If you hit someone is the feeling of hurt they feel just a stimulus? I agree with Lori when she explains how pain is subjective. Humans are animals, animals are not moral, therefore humans are not moral. This statement is valid but not necessarily true, therefore not sound.