Greetings all ye who draw breath, all ye who are undead, and all ye who are using NSG to take your Turing tests.
Since I discovered the internet, I have encountered many people who claim that human beings are superior to other living things. They say that humans are "more successful" or "more advanced" than any other species. But that all depends on your definition of "successful" or "advanced." As much as I would like not to insult the majority of NSG's user base, I prefer bats over humans. Bats are awesome! But that is just my preference. I don't believe that any species is inherently superior to any other. As they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Some of you may think the idea of equality between species is problematic because of course it is only natural for us to treat our own species differently than we treat others. Just about every living thing, with only a few exceptions, exploits other species for its survival. As different as humans and Ebola are, we are the same in this. Neither of our species has the ability to survive without using others. So how do I justify infecting animals and destroying their cells if I believe that all living things are equal?
Well, the way we treat others is influenced by more than just ideas of biological superiority. Many people preach that all men are created equal, but does that mean you won't pick and choose who is allowed to live in your house and eat out of your fridge? If you believe that all human lives have equal intrinsic value, does that mean you care about a stranger as much as you care about your friends and family? Even if all people are equal, it is still possible for you to have more of a personal attachment to some than you do to others. This is how I see all living things. None of them is truly superior or inferior, and no species is more or less valuable than any other. There are just some that I am more attached to. I understand that others will not always have the same preferences that I do.
So what do you think? Do you believe that some species are inherently better or more valuable than others? Are you hoping for someone to invent synthetic food so that you can stop exploiting plants and animals? How do you feel about predators, scavengers, and parasites that exploit your species? Do you believe they are evil or do you believe it is not their fault that they were born into that way of life?
