naps wrote:This is a very honest expression of faulty reasoning that we all have whether we like/acknowlege it or not. Why does everything have to be so conditional with humans? True, pigs can be affectionate. But elephants have been proven to have more intelligence than pigs and have been observed as being one of the most emotional species of animal. Yet elephants have rarely been known to show affection towards humans, even in close or rehabilitative situations. You can't judge a living thing's worth based on whether or not it comes up to you and licks your hand.
I don't know why nature (or God, if you're inclined to think that way) gave mankind so much intelligence and an overabundance of emotions. If you ask me, it's a recipe for trouble.
My point was that ethical behavior is motivated by self-interest, not emotion, although getting positive reinforcement from an animal is a type benefit. I assume a dog shows affection because it is in it's own interest--it gives affection and gets food or care in return. I think most people's feeling of altruism towards animals are actually motivated more by emotion than reason. While I have no desire to be cruel to animals or people, the argument that raising animals for food is cruel is not a
good argument against eating meat. The argument that it's not a sustainable method of food production is a much better.
And while I'm not a cat per se, I am an animal, and as much as I'd like to think I'm motivated by reason, that reason is in the interest firstly of my own benefit, and if not then the benefit of my family or the benefit of my species. I think having a diversity of other species is likely to have some benefit of humans, so I can see a reason to work towards the survival of other species but that doesn't preclude using them for food, on the contrary keeping animals for food actually helps to insure their survival. I would be considered a liberal by contemporary political standards, but I don't support social spending programs because I really have any feelings towards other people but because I realize I or people in my immediate family may need them and because history suggests bad things happen when people don't have bread and circuses.
-- Sun Oct 16, 2016 11:35 am --
under ice wrote:I was under the impression that the parasite makes mice feel kinder towards cats, not people.
I think that's what I said.
It makes rodents feel less scared of cats.
There is reason to believe that it may make people feel kinder towards cats as well or at least engage in behavior that is beneficial towards cats.
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