Atheists, Are humans of more intrinsic value than animals? Why or why not?

Answer 1

To humans they are.

Value is a subjective trait, which cannot be measured, so there is no objective or factual answer. There is only an explanation as to why one person might value one thing over another.

That explanation is given by evolution. We are made of genes that were naturally selected for survival. This is why family is more important to us than non-family - why "blood is thicker than water."

For instances in which a being displays morality and altruism, game theory and memetics takes over.

Answer 2

I try to think that we all have the right to exist. When eating meat I know that I am violating it's rights but I do it anyway. Call me a hypocrite if it makes you feel better. I much prefer animals that are slaughtered be done so in a humane way however.

The idea that people are somehow more important than animals bothers the hell out of me. Just because they cannot speak does not make me feel superior. I mean if that was the test then I would be eating mutes then eh?

Animals have ways of communicating and we all know this. For example a cat purrs when content, a dog barks when happy and wags it's tail. The posturing of animals is quite obvious-- we know when a animal is pissed off and is about to attack.

We humans having large brains and having figured out how to control the world around us (not really true, but we sure think so) suddenly think we are superior and I am quite positive that it is us who is the stupid ones. We ruin our planet for no particular reason, we create weapons designed to destroy us.

We chop down forest so that each of us can live in a 5000 sq ft mansion. That really gets me, people's houses these days are way way too big- the argument that since they can afford it does not give them the right to be building these behemoths. To me it says they make too much money. People are assholes

Answer 3

Yes, but only in the sense that we are capable of awareness of our own existence as more than an instinctive urge for survival.

Still, given a choice between my dog, my companion of seven years, who I have been doing search and rescue with, and a complete and total stranger... I'd be lying if I said I probably wouldn't help my dog first. I know the moral value of my dog, I don't know the moral value of the human. I could save the worst human being and have to live with the guilt of having saved a monster and the pain of having lost my dog at the same time.

Answer 4

More intrinsic value in the objective reality? No.

More intrinsic value in our society? Yes.

In the objective reality our human goals are pointless. Actually, we have probably done more to hinder the progression of existence than help it. Many extinctions were caused by us. How much land have we polluted and or otherwise damaged?

Subjectively, we are of more use because we can develop things that help ourselves better than any animal can develop something that helps ourselves. We also claim that we can help animals better than they can help themselves, but that's only after we have already endangered them by changing their environments.

Answer 5

Agnostic here. nope. humans are of no more value than any other creature on the planet. in fact, since there are way too many humans and the value of a thing often depends on it's rarity humans are of significantly less value than an endangered creature like cheetah or a white rhino.

PS. if i were witness to you being attacked and eaten by a cougar you'd be out of luck. i'd not lift a finger to interrupt the cougar's meal. bon apatite cougar!

Answer 6

Humans and animals both have value. All living things have value

Answer 7

We are of no more intrinsic value than any other animal, but our egos don't believe that

Answer 8

Yes

Speciesism.
http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?va=speciesism
The survival of our species is clearly the greatest priority to us humans.
Intrinsically we value our survival more than the animals that surround us.
Some animals are clearly less tolerated than others.
Some animals are consumed to extinction by us.

However:
Life is valuable and once a species becomes extinct it might be impossible to recreate it.
You never know what species might have unseen value.
Unnecessary pain and suffering is perverse.

For further information of the different approach to animals in religion try. http://online.sfsu.edu/~rone/Religion/religionanimals.html

Answer 9

Everything has value - even bacteria. If there wasn't bacteria, none of us would be here; we wouldn't be able to extract the nutrients out the food that we eat.

What's more important on a car - the steering wheel, or the engine?

Answer 10

humans ARE animals,some of us humans use religion to separate the two when there is no need for separation,every life has value.