Posted on 05/23/2010 10:34:26 AM PDT by Sub-Driver
Whales and dolphins deserve 'human rights' because of their intelligence
Whales and dolphins should get "human rights" to life and liberty because of mounting evidence of their intelligence, a group of conservationists and experts in philosophy, law and ethics have argued.
Published: 6:01PM BST 23 May 2010
Japan, Norway and Iceland, the main whaling nations, oppose arguments that would outlaw hunting or even keeping the mammals in marine parks. They have long said there is no real evidence that they are smarter, for instance, than cows or pigs.
But participants at a University of Helsinki conference said a growing number of studies show the giant marine mammals have human-like self-awareness, an ability to communicate and organise complex societies, making them similar to some great apes.
"We affirm that all cetaceans [marine mammals], as persons, have the right to life, liberty and wellbeing," they said in a declaration after a two-day meeting led by the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS).
Thomas White, director of the Center for Ethics and Business at Loyola Marymount University in California, said dolphins could recognise themselves in a mirror, an ability rare in mammals that humans only acquire at about 18 months of age.
"Whaling is ethically unacceptable," he said. "They have a sense of self that we used to think that only human beings have."
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
Whales are obviously not intelligent enough to stay out of the way of Japanese and Norwegian whalers.
If they were so smart, they’d stay out of those neighborhoods.
This particular example is ridiculous. But I do often wonder about the day we’ll have to decide such things. Whether it’s with some newly-discovered animal, or artificial intelligence, or space aliens, how does one decide what sentience is?
Or is it as simple as “they get rights when they request it themselves”?
This is the hand of the PRC, smells like. Anything that interferes with the training of USN sonar operators makes it MUCH easier for China to take Taiwan.
Sounds nuts, huh?
Chinese money is behind a LOT of the “stop noisy sonar” legal action.
OK, but will they get Miranda rights if they’re suspected of plotting a terrorist attack?
Now THAT was some funny funny stuff!
That’s fine, strip the liberals of theirs and give it to the ocean dwellings geniuses.
Only if they gather signatures on a petition and present it to the proper authorities.
Correct. Human rights apply, you know, to humans. It does not require intelligence, only a specific set of genomes. Humans cannot bestow their condition on non human creatures. Only dolphins can grant dolphin rights. If this kind of logic becomes law it would be appropriate for a human to file for dolphin status.
I guess they're lucky to have a job.
This is nuts, whales and dolphins go great when mixed with tuna and mayonnaise on toast.
Then liberals deserve no rights because these creatures are smarter than them.
...and porpoises are chopped liver?
As Rush says, “Show me a hospital that was ever built by a dolphin.”
“Mom, the tuna doesn’t taste as good as it used to.”
“Whales and dolphins deserve ‘human rights’ because of their intelligence”
“Human”?
I love animals. I will kill others that try to murder my animals, I will risk my life for my animals.
That said, by definition they are not human. You cannot give them human rights. They actually have MORE rights being MY animals than they otherwise would have. Under my ownership and care, I have God-given responsibilities and duties to take care of them, as they are totally dependent on me for everything they need to live. I willingly have taken up this responsibility, it is mine until I pass away or they do.
You cannot assign “human” rights to things other than humans. Ultimately because they have no concepts of rights, nor responsibilities that come with those rights. We have given animals certain general rights and protections under the law. The wild animals are generally under God’s care and He makes provisions for them (we of course believe everything we do for wild animals is always correct and always solves the problem - remember the wild seal nursed back to health and let go only to be eaten by a killer whale). The domesticated animals under our care we have certain responsibilities for and are not to be cruel towards them, we will also be accountable for how we treat them - living, sentient, dependent beings at our mercy - when we are judged.
Great idea! Have a couple of thousand of them sign a petition and we’ll consider it.
Human rights are for “HUMANS” not for other mammals.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.