Skip to content

Around the time that Homo sapiens was elevated to divine…

“Around the time that Homo sapiens was elevated to divine status by humanist religions, farm animals stopped being viewed as living creatures that could feel pain and distress, and instead came to be treated as machines.” quote by Yuval Noah Harari
Download Open image
““Around the time that Homo sapiens was elevated to divine status by humanist religions, farm animals stopped being viewed as living creatures that could feel pain and distress, and instead came to be treated as machines.””

Yuval Noah Harari

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Humanist religions elevated humans, causing animals to be seen as machines, ignoring their capacity for pain.

In simple terms: People stopped seeing animals as feeling beings.

Key Takeaway

Recognize animal sentience.

Themes

ethics animal rights humanism

Mood

reflective concerned

Type

ethical philosophical

When to use this quote

  • food industry
  • research labs
  • pet ownership

Key Concepts

moral philosophy speciesism

Questions to Reflect On

  • What responsibilities arise from recognizing animal suffering?
  • How can societies reframe animal treatment?
A Different Perspective

Complex cultural shifts are hard to reverse.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet

More by Yuval Noah Harari

Explore all 1,200 Yuval Noah Harari quotes

More Animals quotes

Browse all 6,813 Animals quotes