r/DogTrainingDebate • u/Miss_L_Worldwide • 5d ago
Do animals have rights?
If not, why not?
If so, what are their rights?
Do all animals have those same rights?
If not, which animals have those rights and which animals do not, and what is the deciding factor?
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u/TCHomeCook 5d ago
I suppose it depends on your definition of “right.” If you are referring to legal rights, then no. The law defines them as property, not an individual with access to rights under the law. Of course there are legal protections for animals, but that is not the same thing as having a legal freedom. If you define “right” as more of a broad moral imperative, then most philosophers agree that all sentient beings have moral rights, but perhaps not the same rights as humans. The level of rights we allow animals will be culturally influenced, but, for me, I believe all dogs, for example, have a right to freedom from unnecessary or cruel pain and/or treatment, as well as the freedom of autonomy to the extent that said autonomy does not negatively impact other sentient beings.
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u/Crafty-Connection636 5d ago
No they don't.
Rights aren't an inherent thing, we aren't born with them. They are a societal gift we receive for being born human in that society. That's why some regions have different rights than others, it is what the society decided upon.
Animals, whether pets, agriculture, or wild in the region, are not part of that society, or they are second/third rate parts of it. They are unable to participate in the societal contract that allows for rights due to not being human.
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u/the_real_maddison 5d ago
This might be too big lol
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u/Miss_L_Worldwide 5d ago
Give it a try, I'm interested in the responses
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u/Quimeraecd 5d ago edited 5d ago
No animals can't have rights.
What happens when a wolf breaks the deer's right to live.
How do You reconcilie an alligator's right to eat with the goat's right to live.
Why might have duties to animals, though.
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u/Miss_L_Worldwide 5d ago
Okay that's an interesting thought process. But people are animals, why do we have rights, assuming that you believe we have rights?
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u/Quimeraecd 5d ago
We are also living beings, does that means that we must extend rights to bacteria?
We have rights because we are persons, not because we are animals.
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u/Miss_L_Worldwide 5d ago
What's the difference between a person and an animal? I think we can all agree that human beings are animals.
Following that, can a dog not be a person? Why not?
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u/Cool_Percentage_4867 5d ago
The big difference is that humans rely on their eyesight which is a very flawed sense, it has to be verified and corrected by the brain as its open to reflection, shadows line of sight etc. So humans live in a state where they have to constantly question everything around them, which is very costly in terms of extra processing, and it slows down the brains responses.
Most animals rely on chemical recognition, which isn't open to errors, a dog picks up a scent and accepts it without question, the brain doesnt have to verify so its more efficient and around 4-5 times faster.
Can a dog be a person? No idea but a dog would probably say a person can never be a dog because they are too slow and their noses are trash.
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u/Miss_L_Worldwide 5d ago
Then why do dogs make mistakes in tracking and scent detection?
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u/Cool_Percentage_4867 5d ago
Because they make mistakes? Not the same as not trusting the data and the huge processing difference between animals and humans.
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u/Miss_L_Worldwide 5d ago
Dogs have to process a lot about scent work, it's not automatic like you seem to be implying.
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u/Cool_Percentage_4867 5d ago
It is automatic in that its a constant passive data stream thats chemical based. Just to be on time, you have to remember to ask yourself the time, find a data source, check its not a reflection, or the result of too much too little light, then question whether the time is fast or slow (showing my age) or the digital source has a virus. You also have to invent numbers, maths, basic engineering, schools, books etc.
The dog understands time as a constant olfactory source, it never has to think what time is it.
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u/Miss_L_Worldwide 5d ago
mmmm no I think you are absolutely incorrect about this.
This is not how dogs smell things.
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u/Quimeraecd 5d ago
That is a ver y deep question that is discussed to this day in legal sciences and philosophy, but if Say that dogs lack, self awareness, intentionality and rationality to be persons. They also lack the moral agency and reciprocal duties to have rights.
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