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 animals. Therefore; 3. Humans are mammals. 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 personhood. 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 "personhood". 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 personhood 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 personhood and the animal self. So; We may consider the issue as follows; 1. Our bodies are similar to animal bodies. 2 "we" are not our bodies. Hence; 3. We are not similar to animals. Therefore; 4. We cannot be classified as animals. The argument above is based on personhood/self. Hence; whenever i use "WE" i am referring to personhood/self. 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 animals. Therefore; 3. Humans are mammals. 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 personhood. 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 "personhood". 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 personhood 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 personhood and the animal self. So; We may consider the issue as follows; 1. Our bodies are similar to animal bodies. 2 "we" are not our bodies. Hence; 3. We are not similar to animals. Therefore; 4. We cannot be classified as animals. The argument above is based on personhood/self. Hence; whenever i use "WE" i am referring to personhood/self.
Posted on: Thu, 22 Aug 2013 19:13:11 +0000