Why Do Animals Have A Natural Right To Life
IntellectualLoafing.com
Animals and the Natural Right to Life
Introduction 1
The Division of the Material World 2
The Definition and Practicality of the Natural Right to Life 5
The Meaning of Life 6
Self-Awareness 6
The Ability to Feel Physical Pain 9
Conclusion 12
Closing Comments 13
Introduction
This essay discusses the concept of a natural right to life. The idea that ones right to live is inherent in ones own existence. The debate centers on whether self-awareness or the ability to feel pain can be used as its basis. The intention is to try to discover which organisms do have a natural right to life.
As a starting point, therefore, all matter must be divided up into groups. Sentience is often used as a benchmark, but this is a mixed word as it implies not only the ability to feel but also some level of consciousness. As its use could create …show more content…
When the animal wakes it is confronted with a mirror and its response is observed. Most animals react as if facing a fellow animal, but chimpanzees and orangutans who have had prior experience of mirrors will reach up and touch the marks, following this in some instances with looking at and smelling their fingers.
It is important to note that animal intelligence is not the reason that some animals fail the mirror test. Rhesus monkeys for example can understand the concept of mirrors when it comes to other things just not with themselves.
Many scientists take the above test as evidence that chimpanzees and orangutans are self-aware but others that they only have a self-concept. i.e. that chimps learn to associate their actions with those in the mirror and only think Thats the same as me rather than Thats me (see Scientific American Can Animals Empathize? Maybe Not). So, despite passing the mirror test, the jury is still out on whether orangutans and chimpanzees are
Animals and the Natural Right to Life
Introduction 1
The Division of the Material World 2
The Definition and Practicality of the Natural Right to Life 5
The Meaning of Life 6
Self-Awareness 6
The Ability to Feel Physical Pain 9
Conclusion 12
Closing Comments 13
Introduction
This essay discusses the concept of a natural right to life. The idea that ones right to live is inherent in ones own existence. The debate centers on whether self-awareness or the ability to feel pain can be used as its basis. The intention is to try to discover which organisms do have a natural right to life.
As a starting point, therefore, all matter must be divided up into groups. Sentience is often used as a benchmark, but this is a mixed word as it implies not only the ability to feel but also some level of consciousness. As its use could create …show more content…
When the animal wakes it is confronted with a mirror and its response is observed. Most animals react as if facing a fellow animal, but chimpanzees and orangutans who have had prior experience of mirrors will reach up and touch the marks, following this in some instances with looking at and smelling their fingers.
It is important to note that animal intelligence is not the reason that some animals fail the mirror test. Rhesus monkeys for example can understand the concept of mirrors when it comes to other things just not with themselves.
Many scientists take the above test as evidence that chimpanzees and orangutans are self-aware but others that they only have a self-concept. i.e. that chimps learn to associate their actions with those in the mirror and only think Thats the same as me rather than Thats me (see Scientific American Can Animals Empathize? Maybe Not). So, despite passing the mirror test, the jury is still out on whether orangutans and chimpanzees are