Are we animals? Humans belong to the animal kingdom according to science/taxonomy( taxonomy is the classification of living things according to their biological origin, design, and similarities). Hence; Humans are considered to be animals. However i disagree with the classification, even though; 1. All mammals are animals. 2. Humans are mammals. Therefore; 3. Humans are animals. And; 1. Only animals have eukaeyotic cells. 2. Human have eukaryotic cells. Therefore; 4. Humans are animals. And; 1. All heterotrophs are animals. 2. Humans are heterotrophs. Therefore; 3. Humans are animals. Why do i disagree? I disagree with the classification because; To say(for example)("I am an animal"), does not make sense. For such a proposition is directed to person-hood. However "the I" is not an animal. Hence; Even though human anatomy is very similar to animal anatomy, it does not follow that we are animals. For we are distinct from them in terms of "person-hood". Therefore; It is irrational for me to say that "I am" an "animal". For "I" am a person. But; an animal is not a "person". Do not get me wrong. I accept that our bodies are very similar(even often identical) to an animals body. However; i do not accept that our essence of person-hood is the same as the essence of an animal. And consequently, it does not follow that we are animals since "I" is not the same as an animals "I"(it is reasonable to believe that animals have an I/or self). For there is a clear distinction between our essence of person-hood and the animal self. So; We may reason as follows; 1. Taxonomy pertains to the classification(on grounds of similarities) of organisms with other organisms. Hence; 2. Humans are classified as animals based on anatomical similarities. Hence; 3. It is our anatomy that is similar to the anatomy of animals. Hence; 4. if we are not our anatomy, then we do not share any similarities with animals in terms of personhood. 5. We are not our anatomy. Hence; 6. We share no similarities with animals in terms of personhood. Therefore; 7. We are not animals. The argument above is based on personhood/self.
Posted on: Thu, 22 Aug 2013 19:58:08 +0000
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