The Relationships between humans and animals

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Unit 1.4

• The Relationships between humans and animals

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Humans and animals have had a relationship for
some time

• Used as transport
• Used to assist in hunting
• Provide protection
• Companionship
• Provide us with food
• Clothing
• Enable developments in medicine (and in
  cosmetics!)

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Where has the relationship come from?

• The book of Genesis taught us that God gave us
  all creation and handed this to us.
• Man was dominant over everything and ruled over
  the other creations
• Now the relationship is more of a stewardship
  whereby man is a warden over creation to look
  after it
• This point has been enhanced by the exploitation
  of some of Gods creations

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Relationship Changes

• There is much debate and developing legislation
  about the relationship between animals and
  humans.
• It is only relatively recently that humans became
  more conscious of their rights
• At what point will humans contest the rights of
  animals?

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What does our relationship with animals say about
us?

• Should we question our morals if we treat animals
  unfairly? If we do treat animals badly, is that
  further evidence that humans treat less powerful
  groups badly
• What rights do animals have? How valid are
  animal rights (as it is humans who decide these)
• Do wild animals have the same rights as pets?

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Do animals have feelings?

• We often use the words cruelty, respect and
  unhappy when discussing animals
• These are emotions that humans experience and
  when we attribute these feelings to animals it is
  known as anthropomorphism.
• Some say that animals have feelings and
  expressions but these are often different to
  ours.
• E.g. a chimps grin is an indication of fear and
  annoyance.what do the animals truly feel?

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Animal Research

• Animal testing has meant human lives have been
  saved and human suffering is less.
• If some animals suffer but more humans benefit
  then this is good? (Utilitarianism)
• Or should animals be included in the greatest
  good for the greatest number of beings?
• God created all living beingsshould humans,
  animals and plants all have the same level of
  rights?
• Should there be a distinction between animal
  testing for genuine medical reasons and that for
  social and cosmetics reasons?

Jeremy Bentham
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Arguments for animal testing

• Human beings share over 99.4 of their genes with
  chimpanzees and about 99 with mice. It is
  instructive to consider that humans also share
  approximately 90 of their genes with cows. The
  physiologies of humans and these animals are very
  similar, with very similar organ and nerve
  systems. For this reason, it is useful and
  productive to study these animals as a means of
  advancing human sciences.

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What about the testers?

• Do scientists have the right to carry out their
  job?
• Doctors and children are taught about organisms
  and shown dissection for example
• Scientists are not setting out to harm animals
  and they are not breaking the law
• Why should they be subject to abuse and violence
  when they are trying to advance understanding?
• Is it not hypocritical that some groups of people
  who are against animal testing (they regard this
  as violence) then carry out violent attacks and
  terrorism against scientists?

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What is the alternative to animal testing?

• It is unthinkable to test on humans especially
  children or the elderly (although there is some
  clinical testing)
• These arguments outweigh the arguments put
  forward by animal rights groups
• Computer based research? Disadvantages?
• But 99 of our genes are similar to many animals
• A 2005 UK MORI poll suggested that 75 per cent of
  Britons support animal research for medical
  purposes

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Another issue

• Millions of cats, dogs, foxes, rabbits etc are
  killed by cars
• Millions eats animals as meat and this is less
  honourable than animal testing but far less
  controversial

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Conclusion

• There are a range of views on the animal / human
  relationship.
• Extreme to extreme..some humans regard animals
  as their babies and spend thousands of pounds
  on them.even marriage to pets has been known and
  pets being beneficiaries of estates. (Leona
  Helmsley)
• The animals on this planet are there because we
  allow them to be there?

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Thank You