My view is that animal lives that exhibit high level intellectual capabilities are no less valuable than those of humans. What I mean by “high level” can be defined by the way in which the animal behaves and what it is capable of learning. My argument is that the importance of a human life is defined by their contribution to society, their feelings, and their relationships with others. Therefore, an animal exhibiting all of these characteristics must be held in equal regard of importance in the world.
The emerging potential uses of trained dogs have been studied and tested throughout various societies. If a human is respected due to their contribution to society, then an animal is as equally valuable due to theirs. Wells (2009) reviews recent
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Some may think that animal’s reactions and responses to humans is an automated response due to their brain, though this theory can also be true for humans. An example that proves the theory of animals, indeed have emotions, is the research done by Ascione and Shapiro (2009) displaying a “link” between animal abuse and interpersonal violence. Ascione and Shapiro (2009) define animal abuse as, “non-accidental, socially unacceptable behavior that causes pain, suffering or distress to and/or the death of an animal.” Animal victims of abuse are presented as being both comparable to, and interchangeable with, human victim and the psychology of those who commit animal cruelties is portrayed as similar, if not identical, to that of human abusers. All of this, clearly displays the moral equivalence of animal and human suffering. Cultural beliefs ultimately decide the fate of animals and how they are treated. Yet, culture does not justify human abuse or child abuse in any way, due to the way that it inflicts both emotional and physical pain on the subject. Studies showing that the pain inflicted during animal abuse is similar, if not identical, to that of pain during human abuse justifies why culture and society should not have the power to excuse negative animal treatment. My belief is that child abuse is equally painful whether the child’s culture condones it or not, the same can be said for animal
"The Case For Animal Rights" written by Tom Regan, promotes the equal treatment of humans and non-humans. I agree with Regan's view, as he suggests that humans and animals alike, share the experience of life, and thus share equal, inherent value.
Sociologically, a dogs contribution to a human lifestyle draws attention to the understanding that dogs play a prodigious role, especially in the 21st century where they are best known for being companions. Dogs have the ability to shape a person in a particular way, whether it be positive or negative. Dog parks are the central hub for dogs to have a good time, but not only do they have a good time but the owners get a chance to interact with other dogs and their owner's. This concept seems to be quite popular in which quite a few articles have been published on the subject. Dogs play a crucial role in society which gradually enhances their owners lifestyle in several ways.
Dogs are common throughout the world, either as a domestic pet, a protector on a farm, or an assistant for hunting amongst others. Regardless of the reason for having a dog, most people have either owned one for themselves or have known somebody who has owned one at some point in their life. Despite the relative normality of having a dog in your life in one way or another, the reasons for dogs coming into existence are not common knowledge among most people. Throughout a great portion of mankind’s history, dogs have been an essential part of life. The truth is, dogs were actually created in part by man.
English, M. (1976). A basic guide to dog training and obedience. New York, NY: A Filmways
In the 1970s the question of animal rights became a major social issue that more people started to take notice and action in. This discovery of the cruelty these animals go through, lead animal cruelty to become a serious issue in our world today. To understand how animals could be treated so unjustly one would need to know that many believed that animals could not feel pain. However, animals can feel pain just like humans can and using them for experimentation causes them extreme pain. “Each year, more than 100 million animals are killed in the U.S. laboratories for biology lessons, medical training, curiosity-driven experimentation, and chemical, drug, food, and cosmetics” (Peta 1). With countries having inadequate regulations to protect animal’s rights the chances of that number dropping are slim to none.
“Dogs have a way of finding people who need them, filling an emptiness we don’t even know we have,” stated Thom Jones, an American writer. The world fills itself with problems, often ones people cannot fix. In life, there stand so many needs that often the only ones heard become the ones that scream from the inside out. Dogs, though, find people who need them most. Often, the world underestimates a dog’s healing ability. Lately, research conducted pertaining to dogs and their potential health benefits verifies a healing ability. Dogs often stand as a typical necessity standing beside the white picket fence in the “American Dream,” but now, they step into untouched territory: dogs detect cancer, play a role in aiding the disabled, and help children
Should animals be harmed to benefit mankind? This pressing question has been around for at least the past two centuries. During the early nineteenth century, animal experiments emerged as an important method of science and, in fact, marked the birth of experimental physiology and neuroscience as we currently know it. There were, however, guidelines that existed even back then which restricted the conditions of experimentation. These early rules protected the animals, in the sense that all procedures performed were done so with as little pain as possible and solely to investigate new truths. Adopting the animals? perspectives, they would probably not agree that these types of regulations were much protection, considering the unwanted pain that they felt first followed by what would ultimately be their death. But, this is exactly the ethical issue at hand. For the most part, animal rights are debated in regards to two issues: 1) whether animals have the ability to rationalize or go through a logical thought process and 2) whether or not animals are able to experience pain. However, ?it will not do simply to cite differences between humans and animals in order to provide a rational basis for excluding animals from the scope of our moral deliberations? (Rollin 7). This, Bernard Rollin claims, would be silly. He says that to do this is comparable to a person with a full head of hair excluding all bald men from his moral deliberations simply because they are bald. The true ethical question involved is, ?do these differences serve to justify a moral difference?? (Rollin 7). Also, which differences between humans and non-humans are significant enough to be considered in determining the non-human?s fate?
These acts of cruelty trigger a defensive response, which enables cruelty not only to linger in the past, but also come back and haunt them in the future. Paul D.’s traumatizing
Executive Summary Every 60 seconds, an animal is abused. Dogs, cats, horses, and many other types of animals are being neglected and tortured everyday, yet resulting in few and minor consequences for the perpetrators. Animal abuse is prevalent in the United States and has been an ongoing issue since the 1970's, and prior to. Society as a whole has chosen to avoid the facts and arguments about animal cruelty, because to some it is seen as acceptable and typical. It becomes much more frowned upon when people actually see the results of the cruelty, especially in the media.
Humans Are Dogs, Dogs are Human: Current Literature, Media, and Real Observations Framing Dogs as Social Facilitators and Actors Introduction In much literature that has been produced, the identification of dogs as social actors conscious of their own decisions and actions is deemed null instead prompting the idea of dogs as objects, machines, or beings controlled by innate instinct and incapable of real communication that humans project their own humanness upon. (Sanders 2009) With the modern popularity of animal rights and animal welfare organizations across the western world, as well as expanding into countries such as Indonesia despite pushback based around cultural norms, the questioning of the functions of dogs in society comes into consideration
“A dog is a man’s best friend” goes much deeper than the phrase might initially imply. Recently many medical journals have begun to identify with the many and varied benefits of pet ownership. Men have always relied upon animals for work, transportation, and survival. As times have changed, man has begun to appreciate a different bond with animals. Gone are the days of animals running free outside around the homestead, for now animals are allowed inside and are considered by many to be an integral part of our daily lives! Medical studies have found that animals have a much greater intelligence level than originally thought. Through proper training and experience, animals are not only household pets, but also are becoming an accepted form of medical treatment.
In this paper, I am going to argue that Peter Singer is right to claim that human suffering and animal suffering should be given equal consideration. Even though animals are not intellectually or physically at the same level as us humans, they can still feel pain when hurt. (48)
For animal welfare and the causes of animal abuse new research has been created. Since animal abuse is fairly a new subject, new research is constantly brought up. In the Bahamas a study was done in the College of Bahamas, and it states that, “…dogs were equally likely to be considered members of the household in homes without domestic violence,” (Fielding 197). Homes with violence show that humans substitute human victims for animal victims. Animal rights activists are trying to break down symbolic boundaries betw...
The question of whether or not the lives of animals are equivalent to lives of humans remains open. Facts show the many differences between human and animal life, and that very people would argue that the lives of animals aren’t valued. It’s known that humans may be more intelligent than animals and we may have more influence over the Earth however, that doesn’t determine importance. Therefore, human lives are not more important than animal lives.
Dogs are wonderful creatures. They are loyal, dependable companions if given the opportunity. In recent years I have come to the opinion that we could learn something from these animals. We should also take a look at the manner in which they are being treated. Abandonment, irresponsible breeding, and neglect are only some of the ways that humans are failing the canine species.