Why do some people use the animals as justification for their beliefs and behaviors?

Question

I've noticed that a lot of people take their own belief system, attitudes, and behaviors, and look for some species of animal that behaves in the same way in order to use them as a justification. The aggressive guy will look for the warlike species, promiscuous people and adulterers will also make references to the animal kingdom. I even heard this lady talk about female-dominated species, since she liked the idea of women being dominant among people. Communists talk about colonial insects. Racists talk about how birds don't affiliate with different types of birds. Gays look for homosexual behavior found in some animals. Etc.

I keep telling these people that every species is its own little world, and different things work for different species. What works for ducks won't work for bears. What works for cockroaches won't work for humans.

Most importantly, we need to remember that humans are a *cognitive species*. We know right from wrong, and we can control our behavior.

Answer 1

Dogs lick their private areas.

Answer 2

First off, I would like to point out there, when you think about it, there is no right and wrong, only what you percieve as right and wrong, due to beliefs...um....government, and basically everything you've been taught about right and wrong. None of it means anything. Second: I agree that in some cases, looking to the animal world is actually suitable, when the topic is within reason. For example: gays looking for homosexuality in animals. Good idea, because it proves that they're not freaks of nature, they're just like everyone else. On the other hand, however, racists can't use the bird example because the reason birds don't hang outside their species is because they can't cross-breed species. People of minorities, however, are, in fact, of the human species, despite what racists would like to think. So, to answer you question, in some cases, I believe it works and can in fact be used as a credible explanation, but others don't make sense. I hope I was a help.

Answer 3

It's just another line of argument. You hear it from the other side as well. Every time I've heard someone argue the morality of homosexuality they either say its a sin or that its unnatural ie: we as a species were not meant to do it. For some reason people view our animal roots as a sort of trump card . I think the reasoning is that the presence of a behavior in an animal, whom are presumed to act completely on instinct, indicates that the behavior in question is may not be a learned behavior and therefor could be hardwired (instinctive).

People look within other animals for traces of our own animal roots. I think its only real use is that it tends to make nice anecdotes: why women shop more, why men can't multi-task, etc. The problem is that we really aren't completely rational beings or ruled completely by instinct.

Answer 4

I know people who are in actuality cockroaches!

We are animals but that does not mean we have the right to copy their behavior. What it does is give us the tools to differentiate and make choices for us that is different from the base instinctual behaviors of some of the animals. We can learn from animals how to be and how not to be. We are allowed to make intellectual comparisons but it is wrong to steal their characteristics and make them our own.

We do not know that animals are not a cognitive species. Their awareness may only be on a level we can not reach.It is entirely possible that they are intellectually far beyond us and their seeming simplicity may be a very well planned ruse to get us to feed them and pretend to be them so they can laugh at us..the thing that makes me mad is the human practice of not allowing our pets to grow up to be adult animals. the dog is forever the puppy. The cat fights for it Independence but we still persist in thinking of them as our kitten.

And we do all this because we think we are smart!

Answer 5

Most importantly, we need to remember that humans are a *cognitive species*. We know right from wrong, and we can control our behavior.

Cognitive people will use anything, not just animals, to justify beliefs and behaviors. Can we control our behavior?

Answer 6

People want to find a true, absolute and unshakable justification for their belief systems, especially when they're themselves unsure or unable to justify it in any other way, when they don't trust themselves, or when they know their beliefs are problematic. And what's more true, absolute and unshakable than saying "that's how it is in nature"?

There are of course a few answers to that claim. The first is that you can find everything in nature, since nature is so diverse, and taking what you find one way or the other is human interpretation of nature (such as "social Darwinism"). Another answer is, as you said yourself - but we are human beings, and that means we can change nature. When you get to the bottom of the argument, you usually find out that no one really wants to give up civilization, for all it's unnaturality.

Answer 7

I don't think it's a good idea for humans to compare themselves to other species. While, our biochemistry may be similar to some other species, it is not the same. Biochemistry amongst humans is not even the same. What it comes down to is that you really can't excuse or explain your behavior by citing other behaviors by other people and/or species.

Answer 8

Nice observations my fellow Michael.

I think you could expand your view though because you'll find most of these groups don't only seek animals as supportive of their culture/lifestyle/choices. The Nazis tried to draw ties to Atlantis and the "Aryan" race (Interesting that Iran roughly translates as "Land of the Aryans" wonder if they would have been so enthusiastic if they'd know that...). Jews and Christians both point towards the bible. Lawyers point to the legal code. Parents point to teachers. Teachers point to Parents. No one points at the children unless they want to dope them up with Ritalin. It's really a blame game in disguise and a failure of reason. I can't come up with a reasonable defense for my view so BLAH. Keep looking. It gets worse. Point it out every time you can and whatever you do, keep laughing about it otherwise you're going to be crying a lot.

Good journey.

Answer 9

Personally, I think it is insulting to the animals to be compared to what a thinking human being can do!
Animal behavior is simply what it is! Each animal has its nature, and ,for them that is normal! Sharks swim in the ocean! If you swim with them, and they bite you, it does not make t he shark bad, it is simply doing what it does! Looking for food! And more often than not, people are mistaken for seals!
But our similes are ALWAYS insulting to them
1Act like a pig! Meant to be insulting, but pigs are clean!
2.Sly as a fox! Foxes are shy, and easily frightened!
3Hung like a horse1 ( self-explanatory)
4.as slimy as a snake! Snakes feel leathery!
5.Laugh like a hyena!
Unfortunately, our language changes, and we use whatever phrase we think sounds good, or hip, or what we need it to mean! Why do you think t here are so many new expressions every day?

Answer 10

Totally agree, we can control our behavior... like we can control the questions we ask, like we can control the books we read, like we can control the knowledge we have. So, I would say in light of history, like before Jesus existed and back when the Jews were just a bunch of plundering theives in the hillsides of Sumerian cities people had to identify themselves and the world around them... as you pointed out we're a cognitive species... so that means we need to make sense of everything around us, including us, which means I have to read questions and look for something to explain someone's asking of it... paint chips as a kid, cruel to animals as a kid, peed on a downed power line as a kid... grew up in East St Louis?
Thanks for the 2 points and the chance to marvel at the questions once again..

Answer 11

Most importantly, we need to remember that we are animals, too, and so far, we are the only species making a mess of the world. How very cognitive of us!