Monday, May 4, 2009
Animal Language
The topic of whether animals have language and emotions or not was brought up in the book when discussing whether animals should have rights or not. I think that the language barrier is often used by humans in order to distinguishes ourselves from other animals. In a way, many people use the language barrier as a way to make humans seem superior to all other animals who do not have speech. I think this is a pretty poor way of making humans look superior. In reality, humans are equal with animals. We are all a part of one big nature. Humans are animals. In nature, no one animal is superior to the other. Since humans have developed speech as well as learning how to dominate most of the things around us, humans think that we are superior. Just because humans have found ways to dominate other things in nature does not mean we are superior. We developed through evolution from the same animals that we dominate and kill. We need to stop thinking that we are so superior and start acting like an equal. If we don't, then life as we know it today will drastically change. I believe that if we continue on this path of destruction and domination, we will soon become just as extinct as other animals which died out because of our actions.
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I agree with you on this point. I feel like language is a way to make humans seem more dominant over other living beings. We always have the need to have the upper step on something in life. By creating a language barrier, we take on the belief that we are the alpha dogs in creation, thus we do as we please and the others beneath us must submit to what we want.
ReplyDeleteI understand language is a big step humans have taken to communicate. People because of this have used it to justify our domination of other species. But we know that animals communicate just not the way we are use to. If at all animals can communicate without speach something humans have a hard time doing and are losing this ablility even more with the creation of technology like the computer and cell phone. Why is it necessary to communicate with speach and why is it better than not needing to talk to communicate? I just think it is another reason and way for us to justify our supremecy on all other species. Its rooted in our anthropocentric way and view on the world.
ReplyDeleteSo often, I feel like the arguments many people use to talk about human superiority or lack there of are contradictory or pointless. When you are talking about humans and animals being on the same level and being equal, that is one thing. However, if you follow it up by saying that we need to not kill animals, have respect for their feelings, and protect them, that is placing us above or over them, hence superior. I think this is a contradiction, however, I can see where Midgley is coming from when she says that, since we have this capability, it is our responsibility to consider a respect for life and to not kill needlessly. I understand this, but I still see the arguments and wording as contradictory.
ReplyDeleteAlso, when people claim that language is the reason we should be considered superior to animals, this seems completely ridiculous. Humans have the capacity for speech, but a lot of our communication is nonverbal, especially considering body language. Often, we say more with our bodies and our actions than we do with our words. Language is a tool we use, but just because an animal does not have the same tools as a human, does not mean that they feel or think any less. Expression is drastically different from one person to another, yet we find commonalities that bridge a gap. If only we could find that bridge with animals, imagine what we could learn.