And what are we pretending to be?
“Humans”.
And what are Humans?
“Not animals, that’s for sure!”
We may be animals but we sure arent animals.
In what way we aren’t animals? (And please, don’t mention technology or civilization, that’s an easy one)
Being concious of and being able to critically look at what we are and how we act would be one answer. Sort of like what you did when you made this post :P
The cat outside isnt arguing about ethics, doesnt think about the consequences and decide not to act on some base desire, etc
Good point. I’ll give you that.
You must be high. That made no sense.
Not sure if high, but OP is definitivelly BASED!
I was already expecting this type of comment to appear at any time lol. Ok pal 👍
We don’t pretend we are not animals. We pretend we are the ONLY animals, and all others are merely objects.
The Apex Animal, the Uber-animal, the Sigma Animal 🗿
Uhhh I would strongly disagree with that being a mainstream belief
Do you consume non-human animals? Then you are probably psychologically dependent on ignoring all the ways they are the same as we are. You probably believe there are lots of things that distinguish us, as long as you never think too closely about it, that make it morally permissible or even morally encouraged to exploit their bodies and pretend that they don’t have a mind fundamentally like yours.
Being an animal means having animus. But we act as though we are the only creature having it; the only with interests, with thoughts and feelings, with desires and goals, that uses reason, that struggles with everything within us to live.
Do you actually have anything to say beyond, “I disagree”, or are you (like most carnists) just psychologically required to obstruct your own inconvenient thoughts whenever they arise?
You’re on the internet, anyone here might not be human
I am? [farts]
Would an animal fart like that?
We still have this notion and hubris that we’re above animals, and animals are below us who are alright being stepped on and abused. I noticed that in a lot of cultures, their insults and profanities is being compared to an animal (in Europe, the profanities seem to be generally sexual).
Also, for the religious, admitting we’re animals is definitely an insult and denial of biblical teachings that god created humans. When Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution first became a mainstream sensation, some cartoonists drew him as a monkey. I debated with a religious before who believes in conspiracy theories. After pointing out about evolution, I was called a monkey. I wasn’t even insulted though because, yes, that is basically what I’m trying to say. But technically I’m not a monkey, I’m an ape. Humans are apes. The monkeys are our cousins. Religious folks don’t like to admit we’re animals because it contradicts their beliefs.
To be fair, if I took my cats values and morals there would be a bloodbath.
Religious folks don’t like to admit we’re animals because it contradicts their beliefs.
Their religion is based on the idea that we’re special somehow. It allows their followers to feel better than the ‘lesser’ animals, and the ‘lesser’ races/cultures. They teach that we’re the chosen ones with our tools, and language, and emotion, and thoughts.
The fact that we’re all equal, and that other animals have all of those qualities is a threat to their power.
You and me baby ain’t nothing but mammals so let’s do it like they do on the discovery channel
The only animal capbable of destroying the earth and creating stock exchanges. And vaping. And sending a message to the universe.
Plus the 1969 Chevrolet Corvette.
Ha! Suck it, trilobites!
Only second to cyanobacteria.
Agree we are animals…but not sure that is the biggest problem…
Like, yeah of course there’s a lot other things. Maybe I should should have say “one of the biggest”
I don’t know that taxonomy is our biggest problem…
There’s psychology that goes along with it, it’s not just scientific classification. It’s also about ego.
The view that we’re better than the rest of the life on this planet is likely one of the drivers behind climate change. It’s used to justify the destruction of entire habitats. Habitats other beings feel is their home.
A lot of folks may know that they’re animals, in a scientific sense. But they don’t feel it in their bones or really empathize. Folks are often raised to think of animals as potential food, after all. So, it runs a bit deeper than taxonomy. And is more like a cultural habit of feeling better than, because we often eat animals and don’t have many predators to worry about other than each other.
No. The biggest problem with climate change is that people are profiting off it. That’s it. Nobody needs to pretend that they’re better in order to care only for themselves.
And profit is based on the idea that I deserve more than other people do. Again hubris.
I’ve been meditating on this stuff and studying Buddhism for almost a decade. Pride is the root of a lot of dysfunction in our species.
That view isn’t necessarily taxonomically based: We could still be like, “Ok, we’re apes, but we’re the best apes!”
Furthermore, not everyone holds that view.
The real issue is greed.
And greed is based in hubris. Thinking that the individual is better than everyone else and needs more than others do.
Pride / hubris is the root of a lot of dysfunction. Greed is one of its daughters.
I suppose, but you could also argue the reverse: That Pride/hubris is based in greed.
That’s why furries were invented
Speak for yourself. I’m a filthy mo fo
Jonathan Swift had the same showerthought.
Overall, he preferred horses.
And who wouldn’t? They are neat.
They are neat, but I trust no animal less than I trust a horse.
You’ll be sorry when one day that plastic bag that wasn’t in the path yesterday jumps up and kills you!
I love people who are like “we need to return to nature!”
Like, I get the sentiment and we should definitely try to coexist with the rest of the animals since were smart enough to, but i think its important to remember that we are nature. We cannot separate ourselves from it. Even skyscrapers are natural. Just ask a termite.
You’re so damn right! We can’t pull us apart of nature and neither everything we do!
Yup. Pollution is natural. It’s not about what’s natural, but what keeps our environment in a state where we can thrive.
I knew the furries were right all along
The Furries saw the truth and transcend.
“I am cringe, but I am free”
That’s literally my mantra, and I’m waaaaay more happy since I accepted it
