Re: [APD] goldfish...ect.

[Vaughn Hopkins <hoppy1 at surewest_net>]

I have intentionally been staying out of this discussion, but here is 
my two cents worth.   Most animals mistreat other animals, even killing 
and eating them.  Humans are no different in that regard.  We farm some 
animals to be killed and eaten, but ants also farm aphids.  We can be 
altruistic, but so are bees and ants, as well as  herd animals.  We 
truly are unique in our brain functioning and our ability to translate 
our thoughts into complex building tasks.  Beyond that, biologically we 
are just animals, and we share the vast majority of our DNA with all 
other animals.  If I were religious I would believe we have souls, 
which would be unique, but I am not.  Virtually everything we do has a 
connection to our inherited traits, just as is so for other animals.  
Our altruism is a reproductive advantage, not something we just dream 
up because of our love of each other.  The real life form on our planet 
is DNA, and we, along with all other animals, plants, insects, etc. are 
just vehicles used by DNA to reproduce. (!!)  No aquarium is complete 
without some Vals in it. (It is an aquatic plant interest group, you 
know.)
Vaughn H.

On Sunday, October 30, 2005, at 08:41 AM, Jerry Baker wrote:

> S. Hieber wrote:
>> The law and most conversation rarely deals with such
>> abstract conceptually analyzed points -- it cuts the
>> discourse short with the legislation or a ruling of
>> judicial interpretation or religious tenet -- it's more the
>> realm of discourse in academic philosophy departments.
>> However, some of them are relevent and have been raised in
>> certain popular ethical discourses concerning, for example,
>> abortion of pregnancy in Homo sapiens: is being a human
>> organism enough to grant all rights of personhood. An issue
>> no less settled today for all its enduring controversy and
>> examination.
>
> Which is the point here. I didn't used to think the way I do now, but I
> had philosophy professor that changed that. He challenged the class,
> over the course of the semester, to come up with one good reason why
> other animals should be treated differently than humans. Inherent in
> that is the challenge to show some evidence that humans are somehow
> different in this context, and why that difference confers upon them 
> the
> right not to be maimed, injured, or killed for the entertainment or
> enjoyment of another human. Not one person ever came up with one reason
> that withstood any scrutiny.
>
> I am a victim of my own world view here. I have always believed in
> adjusting my beliefs and opinions whenever evidence requires. That 
> class
> forced me to reevaluate some of my beliefs and assumptions about other
> creatures.
>
> -- 
> Jerry Baker
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