Human superiority?

July 6, 2000

>*what do you tell people who say that we are intellectually superior to

>animals?

I would suggest looking at them with a little quizzical smile, and

responding " We are? " I find that questioning their assumptions saves a lot of

time in these attacks.

>People tell me that because of our Scientific and Technological

> " achievents " we have a superior brain capacity.

AV said: Assuming for a minute that humans are 'intellectually superior' (I

interpret that to mean being more self-aware and conscious of our

existence), surely we, as humans, should use that knowledge not as an excuse

to torture and exploit animals but instead to apply our special gifts (e.g.

the ability to empathize) to show compassion for their suffering and respect

for their lives.

Well said! Here, here! Is 'technological achievement' something to be

proud of if we use it to destroy the earth and cause mass suffering and

destruction?

AV said: ...people know the truth about what is happening in our world but

they choose to ignore it or try and come up with many reasons to rationalize

their behaviour or even try to blame it on something/someone else. That is not

intelligence, it is fear.

Bulls-eye!

AV said: ... maple syrup, tahini and apple sauce sound so much nicer than

soy margarine >don't they?

I agree, and I think they actually do produce a much tastier product too!

Deborah in BC, Canada

July 6, 2000

Human superiority is only human arrogance. Ask any pet " owner " if their pet

understands any of their words (commands). Then ask them how many words do

they understand in their pet's language. I thought I was pretty bright (for

a human) until a sassy little cockatiel came to live with me. (She literally

walked up on my deck one evening and pecked me on the foot.) In the 3 years

we've lived together she's learned to understand numerous words that I use

(kiss, fly, potty, etc.) It took me a year to figure out that she tapped me

once on the hand if she wanted to be placed in the doorway of her cage and

twice if she wanted to be put on top of the cage. (Her cage doors are never

closed and her wings are never clipped, but she's a little on the lazy

side.) In spite of my best efforts, I simply can't grasp her complex

language of whistles, postures, pecks, etc. I have finally learned her

whistle for me, but it took me a lot longer than it took her to learn my

name for her. I'm not a dummy (IQ over 140), but this little bird blows me

away. We don't know what forms of communication, culture and societies

animals have with each other because no human has ever been smart enough to