Living in Harmony with All Life

[ModerateRadical]

7. Do Animals Really Have Rights?

The one (main) thing that eludes me on the issue of animal rights is how we can be the only species that excuses ourselves from the natural order. We are heterotrophs, among thousands and thousands of other heterotrophic species. What, other than irrational emotional doo-gooderism, is the reasoning behind this proposed idea that we should remove ourselves from the established natural order of life feeding on life? I understand the concerns about cruel treatment in factory farms, the environmental degradation of excessive beef production causing slash-and-burn expansion of grazing lands into the rainforests, the overconsumption of meat/dairy in western diets, etc, etc...but does any of this really necessitate the complete abstinence of all animal products? Why are humans the only species bound to respect imagined "rights" of other animals? What other apex predator considers the inherent right to life of it's prey? There are tons of reasons to consume sustainable meta/dairy...but none, at least to me, to support the all-out abstinence of animal products.

Can OP explain this, plz?