Animal Quote by Anonymous
““What is the bottom line for the animal/human hierarchy? I think it is at the animate/inanimate line, and Carol Adams and others are close to it: we eat them. This is what humans want from animals and largely why and how they are most harmed. We make them dead so we can live. We make our bodies out of their bodies. Their inanimate becomes our animate. We justify it as necessary, but it is not. We do it because we want to, we enjoy it, and we can. We say they eat each other, too, which they do. But this does not exonerate us; it only makes us animal rather than human, the distinguishing methodology abandoned when its conclusions are inconvenient or unpleasant. The place to look for this bottom line is the farm, the stockyard, the slaughterhouse. I have yet to see one run by a nonhuman animal.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: Animal Ethics, unknown source
The quote argues that humans exploit animals by turning their bodies into resources, blurring the line between animate and inanimate, and that this exploitation is unjustified and rooted in convenience.
In simple terms: Humans use animals for food and other needs, ignoring moral concerns.
Key Takeaway
Question the ethical basis of animal use.
Themes
ethics
animal rights
human-animal relations
Mood
critical
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- food production
- slaughterhouses
- research labs
- consumer choices
Key Concepts
exploitation
moral justification
anthropocentrism
Questions to Reflect On
- Is all animal use inherently unethical?
- How can we reconcile necessary animal use with moral concerns?
A Different Perspective
The argument assumes all animal use is harmful, ignoring possible compassionate practices.
