Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Elephants recognise themselves
I just read an article in the guardian about the ability of elephants to recognise themselves in a mirror.
That's great! Another animal added to the list of 'self-aware beings'. But is a test of self-recognition in the mirror the only way to test this? I mean, vanity can't be the only factor in deciding that a creature is able to know itself, is it?
What would happen if it was discovered that cows, sheep, chickens, etc, had an ability to recognise themselves as a 'person' with future plans, past memories, etc? How can we KNOW that they don't? Peter Singer argues that they probably don't - and even humans up to the age of 2 don't. But we certainly don't eat 2 year old infants.
And why? Well... a desire not to suffer plays a huge role. So how is it that humans continue to justify eating meat, given that we know that all sentient beings have a desire atleast not to suffer? Are we really so selfish that we can continue to kill pigs, milk cows by attaching them to machines all their lives, coop up chickens so that they cannot move?
How can we treat creatures that all have a desire to not suffer as means to our own dietary ends, which, might I add, are not even necessary dietary ends?
What I wish for humanity: That one day, we'll all be kinder.
fon @ 9:20 PM link to post * *