Animal Quote by Carl Sagan
“How smart does a chimp have to be before killing him constitutes murder?”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Cosmos Series, 1995
He questions the moral status of chimps, probing when their intelligence warrants legal protection against killing.
In simple terms: When does a chimp’s intelligence make killing them murder?
Key Takeaway
Consider moral rights of intelligent animals.
Themes
ethics
animal rights
intelligence
law
philosophy
Mood
curious
serious
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
ethical
scientific
When to use this quote
- research labs
- zoos
- conservation policy
- legal debates
Key Concepts
sentience
moral agency
speciesism
Questions to Reflect On
- What criteria should define moral consideration for animals?
- How does intelligence influence ethical treatment?
A Different Perspective
Complex legal definitions of murder may not apply.
![“[ When a religious couple wrote to Sagan about fulfilled prophecies, he wrote back in May 1996 :] If ‘fulfilled prophecy’ is your criterion, why do you not believe in materialistic science, which has an unparalleled record of fulfilled prophecy? Consider, for example, eclipses.” quote by Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/875/carl-sagan-160_belief_when-a-religious-couple-wrote-to-sagan-a_25095.jpg)
