swatiraohnlu
Swati Rao
Do non-human animals have rights?
Animals should have rights on the basis that they can think and feel pain. Human beings are complex evolved creatures who are accorded rights on the basis that they are able to think and to feel pain. Many other animals are also able to think (to some extent) and are certainly able to feel pain. Therefore non-human animals should also be accorded rights, e.g. to a free and healthy life and safety. Human infants and the mentally handicapped don't have many of the capacities that are argued as warranting humans' exclusive possession of "rights". Chimpanzees may have greater IQs than some infants or mentally handicapped. Yet, infants and the mentally ill are given rights, while chimpanzees are not. Why discriminate in this way, if the above criteria are the basis of "rights"?
Animals should have rights on the basis that they can think and feel pain. Human beings are complex evolved creatures who are accorded rights on the basis that they are able to think and to feel pain. Many other animals are also able to think (to some extent) and are certainly able to feel pain. Therefore non-human animals should also be accorded rights, e.g. to a free and healthy life and safety. Human infants and the mentally handicapped don't have many of the capacities that are argued as warranting humans' exclusive possession of "rights". Chimpanzees may have greater IQs than some infants or mentally handicapped. Yet, infants and the mentally ill are given rights, while chimpanzees are not. Why discriminate in this way, if the above criteria are the basis of "rights"?