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For much of history, philosophers
and religious
thinkers have believed there are absolute
differences between humans and all other living things.
Usually, only humans have been thought capable and deserving
of moral standing (either as moral agents, who
are capable of acting morally, or as moral patients,
who are owed moral duties). But this view is now forcefully
challenged, with many disputes or debates about the tenets that
underlie in, including:
- The
Bible says so.
- Humans
have immortal souls, and animals or plants do not.
- Humans
alone are rational.
- Only
humans can speak a language.
- Only
humans have desires and interests.
- Humans
alone are fully sentient (i.e. can experience pleasure
or pain.
- Only
humans are self-aware or self-conscious; some
say only humans are conscious at all.
- Humans
alone are moral agents (i.e. can act morally).
- Humans
can enter into social contracts or agreements, white
animals or plants cannot.
Animal
advocates argue that many animals do have some of these
traits, or that the traits they don't have are irrelevant
for determining moral standing. Recent discoveries also indicate
that humans have much in common with at least some of
the animals. This has led to much rethinking, and to a powerful
critique of our relationships with other living creatures.
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On
two audiotapes - about three hours in length.
Narrator: Robert Guillaume
Author: Dr. Rem B. Edwards
Editor: Professor John Lachs
Publisher: Knowledge Products, Inc.
This
title is part of the Audio Classics Series by
Knowledge Products. Knowledge Products publishes a variety of
audio presentations on the great ideas and events of history.
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