Why do some people assume that animals are morally better than humans?

Question

I'm fully aware that humans are animals

Answer 1

they think animals are innocent, because they act out of instict.
Only humans know hate or revenge

Answer 2

There are a few reasons why most people think this is true:

1) If you look at children - their actions are considered pure- net especially nice - but are are based on sheer instict.. We also view children as lacking intelligence- and therefore are not responsible for their actions. This is true of idiots, imbeciles, and the mentally infirm.

We oftern equate animals as "dumb"- or at least give them the benefit of the doubt. Giving animals the same lattitude as we do children and mentally handicapped.

2) Animals, at least wild ones, live in colonies or herds, their very survival depends on relying on one another. Perhaps we do not see widespread imorality is that those who do not measureup to the standards of the pack are left alone- which usually means certain death. Humans no longer rquire eachother for survival. And perhaps this reason alone is why we are more immoral than most animals, though there are enough examples in which animals do not behave morally.

Besides this the word moral is used usually to describe other humans. This is becasue morality has to have a basis to measure the actions against. Where we do have a yard-stick to measure human behavior- laws and such, there is no law in the wild- excep t for the law of the jungle- kill or be killed to measure animal bahavior. Or, is there?

It is interesting to read some of the responses. It would seemthat animals never do any harm to others of theor species. To this I say these people have not been around animals much. I do agree with the statement that it usually is for basic needs such as food, or procreation, but then again most of human action - even death is rooted in these base needs as well.

I have seen animals having sex with other animals(not humans) of another species. I have seen documentaries on apes having sex - for the sheer enjoyment of it - several times a day (what a life). And I have seen documentaries where dolphins have committed murder of their own species- (several dolphins had positioned themselves over another dolphin which prevented it form reaching the surface- effectiley drowning it). Another examples where chimpanzes had kidnapped and eaten other baby chimps. If you were to say animals were morale - you should use the same measuring stick - and by our standards(lack as they be) these animals were not morale.

Answer 3

Because animal morals are almost always fully realized by the animals, whereas humans usually fail to realize even the most basic of human morals.

Simple enough?

Answer 4

Do they?

Actually, I think a lot of people think animals are more innocent, in the original sense of the word, than human beings. They are guileless, nonmalicious.

Animal advocates probably project a belief that animals are the moral superiors of humans (who are, after all, animals, also) as a starting point for human rights vs. animal rights debate. After all, how would you begin a dialog with someone who says "Oh, they're just dumb animals; we can do whatever we want with them", if not by pulling them back to square one with a challenge to all their received notions that tell them humans are more important/better than animals?

Answer 5

Animals can't be moral because they aren't moral. Male dogs wil mate with any female dog in heat.
Female lions mate with the dominant male lions.
If humans did that very few men would ever get laid.
If animals were moral, then the bear wouldn't eat the rabbit or the fish. They'd be pals like in Disney movies. Blah blah blah.

Answer 6

They are casting human morality to non human creatures. Animals do not question morality. They don't think about right or wrong. They think about survival of themselves and are instinctual in striving for survival of the species. They aren't concerned with saving the planet, just living on it.

Answer 7

Did animals ever create rape? Did they ever create kill just for the sake of killing? The answer is no, animals can not think to that degree, therefore humans are cursed with a higher knowledge and can make higher decisions then to hunt to eat and kill to survive.

Answer 8

It would appear that only man, through the development of the cerebral cortex, has the ability for rational thought, judging whats good or evil. Lower forms of life still operate with the primitive limbic systems of their brains....the raw emotions of survival instincts. At times, some humans revert to their limbic system in their actions.

Answer 9

With animals (non human animals) there is no motive apart from to eat, sleep and procreate.....it is all just nature working without influences of work, possesions, one-upmanship and other unpleasant human traits. Animals have more of an innocence.

Answer 10

Cloning is the two reliable and undesirable. the skill to reproduction human cells can wipe out ailments or create adequate organs for each individual to get the transplants they desire, yet once you start up cloing total human beings you could desire to have many issues. the 1st concern is the blunders which will ensue interior the inital clones. the 2d concern is who's entitled to a clone and why? The third concern is what occurs whilst somebody tries to create a grasp race or the suitable soldier and so on. and so on. and so on. The possibilites are countless.

Answer 11

because animals kiil other animals just to survive - to eat. or to protect themselves.
but people kill - and the monkeys too - for other reasons in addition. they enjoy it, to show their superiority.
when animals are not in a state of hunger or threat - they will not kill.
people - see what had happend on the 11.9.01...
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Wild animals never kill for sport. Man is the only one to whom the torture and death of his fellow creatures is amusing in itself.
James A. Froude
English historian (1818 - 1894)
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and from scientific oint of wiew - we have a lot to learn from them.
beginning with the first airplane, robots, medicine and many other aspects.
we still try to immitate their abilities - and not always with great success...