for atheists. which life is more valuable ? a Human life or an animal's life?

Question

Considering that atheists don't believe in God and thus they don't believe in a soul, it is just natural to think that to them a dog or a cat and elephant or a cow's life is just as valuable as a human life. Or is it not? If not, what makes it different?

I do acknowledge that: 1) human are "animals" according to science and 2)other religions believe animals have souls.

Just want to hear the best reasoned argument, one way or the other

Answer 1

Value and importance are some what relative terms. For example if I had to choose my dogs life over say George Bush's life, I would let George Bush die. Because my dog is way more important to me then George Bush is. This isn't really an athiest thing as much as some christians might like to think so.
Think about how many old christian lady's would expect a fireman to rush into a burning building to save their stupid cats.
I treat animals the same way a Lion or a Tiger would. I keep them from invading my own personal space, and I kill only what I need to survive.
I don't care if you are a christian or a not, you way the lives of others in terms of how important they are too you. If my life is better off with a person or animal dead then I have no problem killing them, if my life is better with them alive, then I do everything I can to keep them that way, and if I really don't care one way or another I try and just leave them be, and let nature take it's course.

Some people might say that's cold, but the reality is everyone thinks this way.

Answer 2

Do you believe simply the essense of a soul is enough to make a life valuable?

But that aside, let us look at the true meaning of a life: it is defined by the ability to in-take information, process it, and out-put it. If some one does not believe in a soul, any perspectives of value in regards to an identity would have to consider at least the processing and out-put. If so, then animals would surely not be as valuable as humans. Humans, using language and such, may possess coherent thoughts that manifest into institutes that are so much more comprehensive than those of mere animals.

On a random note, from where has this thing called the soul even come from?

Answer 3

I assume your lumping in all the religions that believe that animals have souls (and are therefore as valuable as humans by your standards) into the atheist category. The arrogance of judeo-christian thought.

I value most humans over most animals because evolution has trained me that way.

However, when I watched the Utube video of the lion attacking his hunter-killers as he was being shot at, I rooted for the lion. When a human hits a pet dog with a baseball bat, I fully sanction anyone who hits that human with a baseball bat to stop it. And if a bad guy draws a bead on a police dog, I hope the cops shoot him. I value these "souless" animals far more than I value the human counterparts that theoretically have "souls"

Answer 4

You don't really seem to have a proper conception of what atheism is. It does not mean we are a single homogenous bloc with a set of tenets. Some atheists may very well value all life equally. Most do not and value humans more. This is simply because we are generally able to empathise with humans more and it is with humans that we form relations and bonds with. When it comes down to it this is a major reason why most people value others even if they are a theist and believe in a soul as well.

Answer 5

Humans are animals so the question is, which is more valuable, a human animal or a non-human animal.

The question requires an unnecessary choice outside of a do-or-die scenario. Unless you have to sacrifice your dog to save your wife (or vice versa) why is one more valuable than another?

So now the question is, do atheists value one form of animal life over another. The answer is, not necessarily. The definition of atheist does not require that choice. Being an atheist is neither pro-non-human-animal nor pro-human-animal. In fact atheists could choose to hate both and still be "atheists."

Answer 6

Who's to say that animals don't have souls too?

I'm not an atheist but I'd hazard a guess that they would still prize human life above animal life because humans have a greater intellectual & emotional capacity than animals. We have mastery over the animals. Or perhaps if it's an atheist who is also a misanthrope, he'd obviously value an innocent animal more highly than a human whom he despises...

Answer 7

Well, as an atheist, I value a human life more than I do an animal's life. I love people. I like conversation, I am interested in the feelings and struggles of people, I like to hug and be touched by people. I don't like to eat people.

Animals lack the intelligence that I identify with in human beings.

It's a nice try at finding some moral fault with atheists, but we are human beings, too, and we have feelings and passions just as you do.

Just because we have to forge our own moral code based on our experiences and struggles in life, doesn't mean we can't have one that is as good as yours that was probably prescribed to you anyway, if you source all morality to one book written by people who lived far, far outside your cultural context.

It is human, natural, pre-programmed in our brains to love humans and not animals. It's a survival thing, but it's also a beautiful thing.

Answer 8

I believe that all life has the same value. Sure I'm gonna miss a family memeber more then I miss a cat, but that's just like you're going to be more sad if someone close to you dies then if someone you've never met dies. It's natural to care more about people/things close to you. But no life is any more or less valuable than any other. Humans think they are supreme because they are ruling right now, but that wont always be so.

Answer 9

I don't consider myself an atheist, but I don't have most religious beliefs as others, however, with this questions I will deficiently go with humans. I love animals, but human life to me is more precious than any animals. For instance, you loose an animal you can replace it..might not love it the same but it can be replaced to recover some of the lost feelings you had for your past one. However, you can't recover from the lost of a family member or friend as easily.

Answer 10

Sentience is always valuable, be it human or animal. I had a dog a lot smarter than most of my friends, he saved my life. Life is valuable. Be you atheist or christian or any other personal credo. We are all part of this creation, so we must value all. If we don't, it is to our detriment. May whatever you believe in preserve and keep you.