Nonhuman persons

[Ummon]

Which animals should be considered nonhuman persons?

http://www.bostonglobe.com/ideas/2013/07/13/should-chimpanzees-have-legal-rights/Mv8iDDGYUFGNmWNLOWPRFM/story.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/9093407/Dolphins-should-be-recognised-as-non-human-persons.html

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/feb/21/whales-dolphins-legal-rights

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/07/cetacean-rights/

Many scientists believe cetaceans (dolphins, whales, and porpoises), the great apes, elephants, and perhaps grey parrots among a few others should be declared non-human persons and should be given rights like not having to be kept in captivity, not having yo perform for human amusement, not being used in research, and non-interferance in their natural habitats. What do you think? Which animals if any should be declared non-human persons?

[Ecthalion]

All of them, every species of animal. :smile:

[Albalida]

If we decide not to keep them in captivity, not perform for human amusement, use them in research, leave their habitats alone...it is still US making that decision FOR THEM.

Nonhuman persons should be able to make decisions and negotiate for themselves. That means we need to translate dolphin chirrups. We already know that dolphins have names amongst themselves. We need to be able to communicate to them, "Do you like performing at sea world?"

So, we stop making them perform if they answer, "No, I hate it and would rather be out in the wild" and we understand it.

But we should be protecting habitats anyway. The ethical question isn't, "Can they think reasonably and logically?" but "Can they suffer?"

[norseman]

All of them, every species of animal. :smile:

Agree absolutely. Possibly our biggest crime was selective breeding to "fix" animals into a form that we required - especially in dogs. Some breeders are now attempting to retro-breed back to the originals in an effort to remove all the genetic deficiencies that we introduced.