Should non-human beings have rights

Status
Not open for further replies.
I just remember being very upset when my mother took us to the zoo in the late 50's and early 60's to see the lion and wolf and eagle in a cage. At that time the zoo was very small. The property was huge with plans to enlarge the zoo but in the meantime it was a very nice park to tak the family in. The only animals I liked watching werre the prairie dogs because they were essentialy in a habit that imitated their actual habitat, though it was constricted it wasnt' a cage. When I was in 1st grade a local television children's show host called Captain Billy started a campaign to enlarge and enhance the zoo. He started an annual fund raiser for the zoo and raised enough money the first year to build an elephant habitat and buy a baby elephant. It was great on the one hand but not for the baby elephant that was alone for several years until they could afford another elephant. By the 70's that zoo was better than any I have seen around the country, and even in Germany. I have not been to any zoos outside of the Albuqueque zoo in years so I am hoping others have changed and quit putting the animals in tiny cages. In the mid 70's I was shocked when I went with a friend to the Atlanta zoo, a city much larger than Albuquerque but their zoo was sadly behind the times.
 
"Starting January 2022, Spain will legally recognize all animals as 'sentient beings' with emotions rather than 'property'"

So, a Spanish cat that kills the goldfish can be charged with murder?
 
I think that giving them human rights is going too far. They are not human however there should be basic humane rights afforded to every sentient creature. It’s too bad that common sense and decency towards life has to be legislated.
 

"Should non-human beings have rights?"​

Sorry... but I would re-word this as ... "should human beings have rights". Speaking literally we all go into a legality... Speaking morally and ethically... mayhaps it's time we wonder what a 'higher being then us' might have to say about human's and their rights. I guess we should hope that they are all bound up in a our legal system... because, well... we, as human's, are not ... looking so hot on a moral/ethical/universal scale of who's who and what's what... type thing. Just saying.
 

"Should non-human beings have rights?"​

Sorry... but I would re-word this as ... "should human beings have rights". Speaking literally we all go into a legality... Speaking morally and ethically... mayhaps it's time we wonder what a 'higher being then us' might have to say about human's and their rights. I guess we should hope that they are all bound up in a our legal system... because, well... we, as human's, are not ... looking so hot on a moral/ethical/universal scale of who's who and what's what... type thing. Just saying.
If we all knew that 'higher being than us' existed maybe, but since we don't, we need to determine morals and ethics in the here and now as humans. I know people have beliefs but no one agrees on what the rules that their deity has set so there needs to be some human decisions that have nothing to do with someone else's idea of a "higher being". If there were a "higher being" that felt we needed specific rules then it would have made itself known in no uncertain terms, with no ability for discussion or disagreements.
 
If we all knew that 'higher being than us' existed maybe, but since we don't, we need to determine morals and ethics in the here and now as humans. I know people have beliefs but no one agrees on what the rules that their deity has set so there needs to be some human decisions that have nothing to do with someone else's idea of a "higher being". If there were a "higher being" that felt we needed specific rules then it would have made itself known in no uncertain terms, with no ability for discussion or disagreements.

It is not about "belief's" Jaha. It's about common sense. If you believe you are the top of the food chain... if you believe you are the best of what is... well... YOU are expressing a BELIEF ... aint ya. Because you don't KNOW that. You consider yourself the Highest Being? Do you KNOW that? Is that scientifically KNOWN? Human decisions have everything to do with a Higher Being... as in Human's consider/believe ... they need PROOF that they are ... what???? The very fact that you demand proof... a Rule Book ... tells me that you are ... linking yourself to a very VERY limited view ... because, guess what... if you can PROVE YOU have a Rule Book... throw it down here... Along with citing all your research into and your proof of ... Human Superiority. Let's go.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Paulm
My belief is every living creature has a soul and we are all equal. We have to eat something living as everything else does to survive. The animals and plants we do eat should be well cared for and respected while under our care and get to live a decent life while here. Then it's into the frypan :).
 

"Should non-human beings have rights?"​

Sorry... but I would re-word this as ... "should human beings have rights". Speaking literally we all go into a legality... Speaking morally and ethically... mayhaps it's time we wonder what a 'higher being then us' might have to say about human's and their rights. I guess we should hope that they are all bound up in a our legal system... because, well... we, as human's, are not ... looking so hot on a moral/ethical/universal scale of who's who and what's what... type thing. Just saying.
Well said Donna.
 
If we all knew that 'higher being than us' existed maybe, but since we don't, we need to determine morals and ethics in the here and now as humans. I know people have beliefs but no one agrees on what the rules that their deity has set so there needs to be some human decisions that have nothing to do with someone else's idea of a "higher being". If there were a "higher being" that felt we needed specific rules then it would have made itself known in no uncertain terms, with no ability for discussion or disagreements.
I think I understand what you mean, as humans with the power to set protections, regardless of our standing as creatures, we should make rules that protect all creatures, is that a correct understanding?
 
  • Like
Reactions: JahaRa
It is not about "belief's" Jaha. It's about common sense. If you believe you are the top of the food chain... if you believe you are the best of what is... well... YOU are expressing a BELIEF ... aint ya. Because you don't KNOW that. You consider yourself the Highest Being? Do you KNOW that? Is that scientifically KNOWN? Human decisions have everything to do with a Higher Being... as in Human's consider/believe ... they need PROOF that they are ... what???? The very fact that you demand proof... a Rule Book ... tells me that you are ... linking yourself to a very VERY limited view ... because, guess what... if you can PROVE YOU have a Rule Book... throw it down here... Along with citing all your research into and your proof of ... Human Superiority. Let's go.
Nope, I didn't say that. I referred to the "higher being" concept in context of the post I was responding to. Don't make stuff up about me or what I have said. Mainly, what I said was that we don't know of any higher being in relation to where ever we put ourselves so the higher being is irrelevant when making decisions on how we will act and how we will treat non-humans. I see something I said triggered you, you are welcome. It is a good opportunity for you to examine that.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.