Why shouldn't I be able to marry an animal?

Question

It has been said that humans should not be able to marry animals because animals cannot consent. It is true that animals cannot consent, but why is that important? I do not need the consent of an animal to kill it and eat it, so why would I need its consent to marry it?

Maverick and I are in LOVE, Stakekawa! Why can't you understand and accept that?!

Answer 1

Why not, indeed!!!. In this age when man is marrying man and a woman is marrying another woman, why stop at that only. Take it further to animals, all in the name of free choice. As for the marriage vows, who care for those these days! Especially the one which roughly says to "stay together through thick and thin till death do us part" and get separated at the very first snore of the spouse.
So much for the civilised society of US of A........

Answer 2

At first I thought this might be a joke. Then I became very concerned because I do believe you actually think you're making a point.

Humans have killed animals and ate their flesh from the beginning of time. Its survival of the fittest in all its glory.

However, the entire concept of marriage is that it is consentful. Both parties stand before a minister and God(if that's your pleasure) or a justice of the peace and verbally express their desire for marriage. An animal can not verbalize its wishes, and therefore can't be considered for this particular contract.

Although I understand your point, the nature of the two situations is vastly different.

Answer 3

Because animals and people are different species. You do need consent from a person to marry them, but you cannot kill them. It is natural for animals to kill each other for food and territorial purposes. People are higher up on the food chain, so naturally we will kill some animals. You won't see a lion mating with a zebra. And you should not see a human mating with a dog.

Answer 4

Are you majoring in philosophy, by any chance? (g)

One argument raised against "marriage" with an animal is that it exploits the creature, but as you point out, we eat them freely---and that's rather more exploitative, IMHO....

If you want a "practical" reason as to why not, my **guess**, FWIW: Most cultures will accept "marriage" (read: societally recognized bonding) for purposes of raising children, strengthening kinship/other alliances, increasing wealth, maintaining status, providing companionship, allowing for old-age support, etc.
These human needs and goals are NOT going to be met very effectively by partnering with a nonhuman---about the only things that will be met in this sort of alliance would be sexual gratification & some level of companionship.

And in the Western world, there still seems to be a considerable Puritan hesitance about doing things primarily for satisfying your erotic ya-yas....Sexual gratification for its own sake just doesn't seem "right" or proper or decent, in the eyes of many people. (Don't believe me?--OK, how many of you wince at the idea of your parents---or respectable "old people", say, in their 60s and up---having a consensual, fulfilling erotic life? Gotcha....!)

You're gonna get a LOT of flak on this question, but it's an interesting one to trigger thoughts...

Answer 5

Because a marriage is a partnership - a commitment between two individuals to love each other.

The animal, however, is not your equal - it is unable to consent to the marriage, it is unable to commit to a relationship, unable to even comprehend the concept of marriage, and unable to be an effective partner in life to a human being.

If you want to have sex with the animal, I'd be grossed out, but as long as you're not harming the animal in any way, you might have an argument. But a partnership in marriage is something that an animal simply isn't capable of providing.

Answer 6

Society is inching down the road to Hell, by inches and degrees -- we just haven't inched down quite to that level yet, but I'll bet its only a matter of time until that's the next step in liberalizing and redefining societal norms and practices -- its hard to imagine, but I'll bet a lot of things that are considered "normal" now were unthinkable not that long ago

I believe animals already rank quite a bit higher in liberal values than unborn children based on the amount of protection we give to them, and I'll bet a Bill of Rights can't be far behind as the child-free replace children with pets in their lives and as vegans increasingly are trying to pressure mankind into giving up animals as a food source and as well as beasts of burden, etc., so I guess they're making progress...

Answer 7

Didnt Some Chick Marry A Dolphin Last Year

Answer 8

Are you a zoophiliac? Eating an animal is different, unless you think animals are better than us. To marry somebody you need their consent.

Answer 9

Because marriage would entitle that animal to human benefits, which would in turn raise the question of whether or not you can still kill and eat that animal without it's consent.

Answer 10

Are you truly this out of touch with reality? Consent. Sure, girl. You are not too wacky, are you? And to imagine that you eat animals without their consent. Unbelievable. Shame on you.