In the beginning of things men were animals and animals men. ~ Algonquin saying
"For instance, on the planet Earth, man had always assumed that he was more intelligent than dolphins because he had achieved so much — the wheel, New York, wars and so on — whilst all the dolphins had ever done was muck about in the water having a good time. But conversely, the dolphins had always believed that they were far more intelligent than man — for precisely the same reasons." ~ The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
14 Stories That Prove Animals Have Souls
Not that there has ever been any doubt, but these stories are reminders of the spirit within our fellow creatures. I especially love the one about the elephants.14 Stories That Prove Animals Have Souls
I don't know about souls, but it's long overdue that we recognise the *soulfulness* of animals.
Many have demonstrated empathy and pass the 'sentience' test. It's only an opinion, but I think some animals have more consideration and compassion than a lot of humans.
It's something I often think about and I wonder if there's a line to be drawn or whether we should be thinking of a spectrum of awareness?
I think of that mother bear in China killing her own cub and then killing herself. I mean, surely it said much more than just being a 'human interest' media story. Bonobos have been studied, but that incident where one tried to help an injured bird to fly out of the enclosure was totally moving.
Maybe one day, we'll shift our conception of the value of life and extend far more rights to the treatment of animals. It'd take a major change in how we place life-forms into a hierarchy and would involve some humble-pie for humanity. That kind of shift takes balls and a lot of adjustment!
I don't know about souls, but it's long overdue that we recognise the *soulfulness* of animals.
ReplyDeleteMany have demonstrated empathy and pass the 'sentience' test. It's only an opinion, but I think some animals have more consideration and compassion than a lot of humans.
It's something I often think about and I wonder if there's a line to be drawn or whether we should be thinking of a spectrum of awareness?
I think of that mother bear in China killing her own cub and then killing herself. I mean, surely it said much more than just being a 'human interest' media story. Bonobos have been studied, but that incident where one tried to help an injured bird to fly out of the enclosure was totally moving.
Maybe one day, we'll shift our conception of the value of life and extend far more rights to the treatment of animals. It'd take a major change in how we place life-forms into a hierarchy and would involve some humble-pie for humanity. That kind of shift takes balls and a lot of adjustment!