I've heard some people argue that humans have the right to do whatever they damned well please to other animals simply because they possess a higher order of intelligence. That being said, though, it should also be noted that there are some exceptions to this rule. For example, there are some humans who are either so profoundly retarded or so brain damaged that they can't function beyond the level of a newborn baby, whereas the typical pig is said to possess the intelligence of the average three-year-old child. If we use the argument that our higher level of intelligence gives us the right to exploit other animal species, then could it also be argued that we should be able to do whatever we damned well please to a person who is profoundly retarded or brain damaged? And for that matter, couldn't it also be argued that we should leave profoundly retarded or brain damaged humans at the mercy of higher functioning animals?
2007-01-17
03:19:33
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17 answers
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asked by
tangerine
7
in
Philosophy