Ability Quote by Dale Jamieson
“The problem is that for almost any feature of humanity that you can name, whether it's the ability to suffer, whether it's the capacity to reason, whether it's having lives that can go better or worse, there are at least some other non-human animals that have all of these features as well. So to exclude non-human animals from the range of moral concern but to include all humans, just seems morally arbitrary.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Moral Consideration of Animals, 2020
Human and non‑human animals share capacities like suffering and reasoning, making exclusion of animals from moral concern arbitrary.
In simple terms: Animals share key capacities with humans, so excluding them is unfair.
Key Takeaway
Treat all sentient beings with equal moral consideration.
Themes
ethics
animal rights
morality
Mood
thoughtful
concerned
Type
ethical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- animal research
- dietary choices
- legislation
- education
- activism
Key Concepts
sentience
moral arbitrariness
speciesism
Questions to Reflect On
- What capacities do you think matter most morally?
- How can societies balance human and animal interests?
A Different Perspective
Humans may argue differences in complexity justify exclusion.
