Is this where evolution is heading?

Question

The animal rights people want this chimp declared to be a person like you and me. Evolution would say that this chimp is somewhere in the evolutionary ladder of becoming a person and should be declared a human.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070927/ap_on_fe_st/chimp_challenge;_ylt=ApTuJhWcOn5yeqcvLZvpe34uQE4F
Will the chimp (if declared a person) then qualify for unemployment, social security benefits, medicare, that most normal humans have..
The chimp won't be able to work so then will qualify for handicapped benefits for life. Well you get the idea anyway.
Is this the way we are headed?? What do you say?

So now there is a difference between a person and a human..
a person does not have to be human?
a human does not have to be a person?
Just another word game..

Directly from the dictionary.\PERSON.
–noun 1. a human being, whether man, woman, or child: The table seats four persons.
2. a human being as distinguished from an animal or a thing.

Answer 1

believe it or not, this isn't the first i've heard of this. it sounded pretty stupid, until i considered some of the people i know. ;o)

Answer 2

Sorry. The definition of a "person" is "a human being regarded as an individual". As such, a chimp is simply not a person.

I don't believe that animals should ever be treated in a cruel fashion. I don't generally like the idea of animal experimentation, but animals are simply not "persons". The whole idea of a gift being only able to be given to a person is a smokescreen. Giving the chimp a gift of money is pointless because the chimp would be unable to spend it on his own behalf. The gifts of money should necessarily be given to an institution setup for the car of that animal.

Were the chimp intelligent enough to care for himself, then fine, he could and should be declared a person. If he could go to a store, pick out food, pay for it and prepare and eat it, that would be a sign of intelligence worthy of personhood. This hasn't happened. The chimp is still an animal in captivity and the concept of "gifts of money" is moot.

Should this creature be cared for and kept free from harm? Certainly. Should this creature have rights? I don't think that is the question. I think that rather than the creature having rights, we have responsibilities. In the wild, this creature is simply part of the food chain.

In human society, it is the rare person who will not be able to substantially add to and benefit the human condition. On the other hand, it is the rare animal who is able to do so. Some may be trained to use certain abilities to aid humans, but these are merely people taking advantage of instinct and physical characteristics of these creatures. Some animals may show what appears to be emotion or "love", and I don't doubt that there is some sort of affection, but it is a stretch to say that this makes them intelligent.

I love and respect animals, and feel they should be treated with dignity. I simply don't believe they are persons.

Answer 3

"Evolution would say that this chimp is somewhere in the evolutionary ladder of becoming a person"

This is a false statement. This really doesn't have anything to do with evolution. Really it is a philosophical debate on if a chimp can achieve a high enough consciousness to be considered a person.

Answer 4

"Evolution would say that this chimp is somewhere in the evolutionary ladder of becoming a person and should be declared a human."

You really need to read up on evolutionary theory buddy. A chimpanzee is not BECOMING human. They are on a completely different branch. We share a common ancestor several (8-10) million years back.

Answer 5

Dude, this isn't the end of the world or such a bad thing. It won't receive such benefits. The expressed intent of declaring him a person is expressed in the article:

"The association, which worries the shelter caring for the chimp might close, has been pressing to get Pan declared a "person" so a guardian can be appointed to look out for his interests and provide him with a home."

I don't see anything about evolution there or anything bad about that.

Answer 6

Yes, the animal rights people have banded together with the "evolutionists" and the Democrats to ensure that chimps are made citizens and will receive full Social Security Benefits. Expect a tax hike.

Seriously - I'm sure you have better things to worry about, don't you? Chimps on welfare...lol. Clearly you need to focus on the REAL issues, like preventing same-sex chimp marriages!

Answer 7

Evolution does not suggest that a chimp should be declared a person. It merely argues that there is a genetic link between chimpanzees and people.

You should also read the whole article. They're trying to get him declared a person, not a human. He wouldn't qualify for the benefits given to humans, but would be legally be more than a "thing."

Answer 8

That's ridiculous. Chimps are not people. I fail to see what evolution has to do with that. We share a common ancestor with all other life, and no one would say that amoebas should be able to vote. Why single out chimps? Some animal rights activists are obviously bonkers.

Answer 9

That's absurd and you know it.

What animal rights people are saying is that chimps are capable of feeling things like pain and sadness and we should not be horrid to them - the same as they say about bunnies and dogs too.

Due to the advanced intelligence of chimps, care should be given to their environment and stimulation.

Evolution and animal rights are two separate issues so don't use some crazy argument which no one has yet proposed to discredit the other.

Answer 10

Chimps aren't people. People are homo sapiens. Everything else is classified as an animal. If the P.E.T.A.R.D.S. want the chimps to be considered humans, then they're going to have to wait a few million years.

Answer 11

There are no "evolutionary ladders." Evolution is not teleological. Chimps are not in the process of becoming humans. Chimps are in the process of evolving to survive in shrinking rainforests (most would say they are in the process of becoming extinct).