We react with complete repugnance to the idea of cannibalism, and would be disgusted if we were served dog meat or cat meat; yet, over 52 billion pounds of meat are consumed annually in the United States. What differentiates our mindset towards human beings, non-human animals, and pets that we co-exist with? Philosophers, namely Locke, Descartes, and Mutahhari, argue that the factors humans possess, such as consciousness and intelligence, seem to set us apart and distinguish humans as essentially different beings from animals.
Matahhari, a prominent and influential Iranian philosopher, asserts that the basic differences between humans and animals can be placed in one of the three categories; qualitative, quantitative, or essential differences. …show more content…
Descartes points out that animals lack the capability for intelligence that humans possess. He asserts that no other species besides human beings have language, a factor that in his theory, reflects the capacity of intelligence. While talking about the essential difference between humans and machines, Descartes states that machines “could never use words, or put together other signs, as we do in order to declare our thoughts to others” (Descartes, 44). This claim about machines also applies to animals and humans, as he goes on to explain further about how neither do animals possess the capability to communicate with a language, which shows their lack of ability to reason. Thus, both Locke and Descartes take the approach that animals do not have the ability to reason or any linguistic method to communicate their thoughts if they have thoughts in the first place. Therefore, they believe that animals and humans are essentially different in reason, consciousness, intelligence, and
Matahhari, a prominent and influential Iranian philosopher, asserts that the basic differences between humans and animals can be placed in one of the three categories; qualitative, quantitative, or essential differences. …show more content…
Descartes points out that animals lack the capability for intelligence that humans possess. He asserts that no other species besides human beings have language, a factor that in his theory, reflects the capacity of intelligence. While talking about the essential difference between humans and machines, Descartes states that machines “could never use words, or put together other signs, as we do in order to declare our thoughts to others” (Descartes, 44). This claim about machines also applies to animals and humans, as he goes on to explain further about how neither do animals possess the capability to communicate with a language, which shows their lack of ability to reason. Thus, both Locke and Descartes take the approach that animals do not have the ability to reason or any linguistic method to communicate their thoughts if they have thoughts in the first place. Therefore, they believe that animals and humans are essentially different in reason, consciousness, intelligence, and