Peter Singer's All Animals are Equal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Peter Singer's All Animals are Equal - Essay Example I am urging that we extend to other species the basic principle of equality that most of us recognize should be extended to all members of our own species.† (Singer, 1989) In my opinion, Singer would better communicate his point if he preached on the necessity of compassion for animals, but in this instance, he suggests a quality of rights with humans. To show how quickly Singer’s logic contradicts itself or quickly spirals to the absurd, we can begin with the innumerable treaties that exist in international law that define the extent of Human Rights as decided among humans themselves at the United Nations and other locations. First, we must ask ourselves – can even one animal read the â€Å"Universal Declaration of Human Rights†? We can accept that any human being, in any human culture on the planet, generally save instances of abnormal injury, can learn to read and understand the document. In comparison, of what may be anywhere from 30 to 230 million different species of animals on the planet, depending on the number of insects, and the number of individual animal beings literally exponential and uncountable to human mind or science – not one of these animals can read. In recognizing that some higher mammals can be taught, should one extend the right of education and free speech to insects? It is not in my interest to encourage in any way cruelty to animals, nor to belittle animal intelligence, and dismiss animal culture. I understand the ways in which speciesism may unfold, as defined by Skinner, and support vegetarianism. However, I would suggest that Singer spend years in a jungle or forest location and teach vegetarianism to animals. It may be possible, and I have seen cats for example raised as vegetarians by their owners but not renounce killing by their own choice.