--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As discussed earlier, humans who lack the…" description: "\"“As discussed earlier, humans who lack the reflective self-awareness of normal adults, such as those with particular forms of amnesia or very young chi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/537/gary-l-francione-8902_animals_as-discussed-earlier-humans-who-lack-the_1873416.jpg" --- # As discussed earlier, humans who lack the reflective… ![“As discussed earlier, humans who lack the reflective self-awareness of normal adults, such as those with particular forms of amnesia or very young children or those with certain mental disabilities, still are self-aware and still have an interest in continuing to live. There may, of course, be a…” quote by Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/537/gary-l-francione-8902_animals_as-discussed-earlier-humans-who-lack-the_1873416.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/537/gary-l-francione-8902_animals_as-discussed-earlier-humans-who-lack-the_1873416.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/537/gary-l-francione-8902_animals_as-discussed-earlier-humans-who-lack-the_1873416.jpg) > ““As discussed earlier, humans who lack the reflective self-awareness of normal adults, such as those with particular forms of amnesia or very young children or those with certain mental disabilities, still are self-aware and still have an interest in continuing to live. There may, of course, be a difference between the self-awareness of normal adult humans and that of other animals. But even if that is the case, it does not mean that the latter have no interest in continuing to live, and it does not justify treating the latter as commodities.”” [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Even beings lacking typical self‑awareness possess a desire to live, so they deserve moral consideration beyond utility. **In simple terms:** All beings want to live, deserve respect. Key Takeaway Respect all living beings. Themes ethics animal rights life value Mood serious thoughtful Type philosophical advocacy When to use this quote - policy debates - animal care - education Key Concepts sentience moral status Questions to Reflect On - How should law protect non‑human life? - What criteria define moral consideration? A Different Perspective Complex to define self‑awareness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Animals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animals/) [Awareness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awareness/) [Commodification](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commodification/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Self Awareness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-awareness-3/) [Veganism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/veganism/) [Vegetarianism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vegetarianism/) [Will to live](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/will-to-live/) ## Related quotes > [“The notion that animals are not self-aware is based on nothing more than a stipulation that the only way to be self-aware is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/the-notion-that-animals-are-not-self-aware-is-based-on-nothing-more/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) > [Animal rights without veganism is like human rights with slavery. It makes no sense. None whatsoever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/animal-rights-without-veganism-is-like-human-rights-with-slavery-it/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) > [Ethical veganism results in a profound revolution within the individual; a complete rejection of the paradigm of oppression and violence that she has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/ethical-veganism-results-in-a-profound-revolution-within-the/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) > [The most important form of incremental change is the decision by the individual to become vegan. Veganism, or the eschewing of all animal products,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/the-most-important-form-of-incremental-change-is-the-decision-by-the/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) > [“If you really care about animals, then stop trying to figure out how to exploit them 'compassionately'. Just stop exploiting them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/if-you-really-care-about-animals-then-stop-trying-to-figure-out-how/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) > [Veganism is not a limitation in any way; it's an expansion of your love, your commitment to nonviolence, and your belief in justice for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/veganism-is-not-a-limitation-in-any-way-it-s-an-expansion-of-your/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) > [Veganism is not about giving anything up or losing anything; it is about gaining the peace within yourself that comes from embracing nonviolence and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/veganism-is-not-about-giving-anything-up-or-losing-anything-it-is/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) > [“Animals are property. There are laws that supposedly protect animal interests in being treated “humanely,” but that term is interpreted in large part to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/animals-are-property-there-are-laws-that-supposedly-protect-animal/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) > [I find it very annoying that so many animal advocates talk about the difficulty of being vegan. Many animal advocates are inclined to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/i-find-it-very-annoying-that-so-many-animal-advocates-talk-about-the/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) > [Veganism is the application of the principle of abolition in your own life; it represents your recognition that animals are not things. Veganism is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/veganism-is-the-application-of-the-principle-of-abolition-in-your-own/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) > [If we can live and prosper without killing, why would we not do so? I do not see veganism as 'extreme' in any way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/if-we-can-live-and-prosper-without-killing-why-would-we-not-do-so-i/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) > [If you love animals but think that veganism is extreme, then you are confused about the meaning of love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/if-you-love-animals-but-think-that-veganism-is-extreme-then-you-are/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) > [We do not need to eat animals, wear animals, or use animals for entertainment purposes, and our only defence of these uses is our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/we-do-not-need-to-eat-animals-wear-animals-or-use-animals-for/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) > [Being vegan is easy. Are there social pressures that encourage you to continue to eat, wear, and use animal products? Of course there are.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/being-vegan-is-easy-are-there-social-pressures-that-encourage-you-to/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) > [Even if plants were sentient, veganism would still be a moral imperative given that it takes many pounds of plants to produce one pound…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/even-if-plants-were-sentient-veganism-would-still-be-a-moral/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) ## More by Gary L. Francione > [Animal rights without veganism is like human rights with slavery. It makes no sense. None whatsoever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/animal-rights-without-veganism-is-like-human-rights-with-slavery-it/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) > [Humans treat animals as things that exist as means to human ends. That's morally wrong. Sexism promotes the idea that women are things that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/humans-treat-animals-as-things-that-exist-as-means-to-human-ends-that/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) > [“The notion that animals are not self-aware is based on nothing more than a stipulation that the only way to be self-aware is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/the-notion-that-animals-are-not-self-aware-is-based-on-nothing-more/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) > [There is no morally coherent difference between fur and other animal clothing, such as leather, wool, etc., just as there is no morally coherent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/there-is-no-morally-coherent-difference-between-fur-and-other-animal/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) > [We cannot talk simultaneously about animal rights and the 'humane' slaughter of animals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/we-cannot-talk-simultaneously-about-animal-rights-and-the-humane/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) > [We can no more justify using nonhumans as human resources than we can justify human slavery. Animal use and slavery have at least one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/we-can-no-more-justify-using-nonhumans-as-human-resources-than-we-can/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) > [Because animals are property, we consider as "humane treatment" that we would regard as torture if it were inflicted on humans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/because-animals-are-property-we-consider-as-humane-treatment-that-we/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) > [Not only are the philosophies of animal rights and animal welfare separated by irreconcilable differences... the enactment of animal welfare measures actually impedes the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/not-only-are-the-philosophies-of-animal-rights-and-animal-welfare/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) > [There is increasing social concern about our use of nonhumans for experiments, food, clothing and entertainment. This concern about animals reflects both our own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/there-is-increasing-social-concern-about-our-use-of-nonhumans-for/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) > [Being vegan is easy. Are there social pressures that encourage you to continue to eat, wear, and use animal products? Of course there are.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/being-vegan-is-easy-are-there-social-pressures-that-encourage-you-to/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) > [“Sentience is a means to the end of continued existence. Sentient beings, by virtue of their being sentient, have an interest in remaining alive;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/sentience-is-a-means-to-the-end-of-continued-existence-sentient/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) > [It costs us so little to go vegan. It costs animals so much if we don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/it-costs-us-so-little-to-go-vegan-it-costs-animals-so-much-if-we-don-t/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) > [In order to be a teacher you've got to be a student first](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/in-order-to-be-a-teacher-you-ve-got-to-be-a-student-first/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) > [We do not need to eat animals, wear animals, or use animals for entertainment purposes, and our only defence of these uses is our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/we-do-not-need-to-eat-animals-wear-animals-or-use-animals-for/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) > [But if there were two dogs left in the universe and it were up to us as to whether they were allowed to breed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/but-if-there-were-two-dogs-left-in-the-universe-and-it-were-up-to-us/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) [Explore all 77 Gary L. Francione quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) ## More Animals quotes > [I was 3-years-old - to this day it is a vivid memory. My family and I were on a boat, catching fish. As one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/i-was-3-years-old-to-this-day-it-is-a-vivid-memory-my-family-and-i/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [Animals know nothing of themselves, and they also know nothing of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/animals-know-nothing-of-themselves-and-they-also-know-nothing-of-the/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Humans are animals too, but some do not like to work from expectations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/humans-are-animals-too-but-some-do-not-like-to-work-from-expectations/) Mak\_786 > [Practically all animals which move fast in a homogeneous medium have found means of giving their body a streamlined shape, thereby reducing friction to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/practically-all-animals-which-move-fast-in-a-homogeneous-medium-have/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [“What does it mean to be a self-conscious animal? The idea is ludicrous, if it is not monstrous. It means to know that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-becker/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-self-conscious-animal-the-idea-is-ludicrous/) [Ernest Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-becker/) > [We must love animals in such a powerful way that we should reject to eat them!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/we-must-love-animals-in-such-a-powerful-way-that-we-should-reject-to/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [I bet plants go like 'Weeeeeeeee!' whenever they're swallowed by a giraffe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-bet-plants-go-like-weeeeeeeee-whenever-they-re-swallowed-by-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It’s a small thing to help one animal, but to that one animal it’s a big thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-baur/it-s-a-small-thing-to-help-one-animal-but-to-that-one-animal-it-s-a/) [Gene Baur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-baur/) > [We animals are the most complicated things in the known universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/we-animals-are-the-most-complicated-things-in-the-known-universe/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [“All these creatures spend their time explaining, realizing happily that they agree with each other.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/all-these-creatures-spend-their-time-explaining-realizing-happily/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [We're not very dangerous animals; we don't have a horn like a rhino or quills like a porcupine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-fisher/we-re-not-very-dangerous-animals-we-don-t-have-a-horn-like-a-rhino-or/) [Helen Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-fisher/) > [We need, in a special way, to work twice as hard to help people understand that animals are fellow creatures, that we must protect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-chavez/we-need-in-a-special-way-to-work-twice-as-hard-to-help-people/) [Cesar Chavez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-chavez/) > [“Plenty of animals had pets, but few were more devoted than the mouse, who owned a baby corn snake—“A rescue snake, she’d be quick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/plenty-of-animals-had-pets-but-few-were-more-devoted-than-the-mouse/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [No creature can attain a higher grade of nature without ceasing to exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ananda-coomaraswamy/no-creature-can-attain-a-higher-grade-of-nature-without-ceasing-to/) [Ananda Coomaraswamy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ananda-coomaraswamy/) > [Most people are sensitized to animals through their cats and dogs, but for me it was a flounder. I used to go fishing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-mathews/most-people-are-sensitized-to-animals-through-their-cats-and-dogs-but/) [Dan Mathews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-mathews/) [Browse all 6,813 Animals quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animals/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“As discussed earlier, humans who lack the reflective self-awareness of normal adults, such as those with particular forms of amnesia or very young children or those with certain mental disabilities, still are self-aware and still have an interest in continuing to live. There may, of course, be a difference between the self-awareness of normal adult humans and that of other animals. But even if that is the case, it does not mean that the latter have no interest in continuing to live, and it does not justify treating the latter as commodities.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gary L. Francione" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/as-discussed-earlier-humans-who-lack-the-reflective-self-awareness-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Animals" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/as-discussed-earlier-humans-who-lack-the-reflective-self-awareness-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/537/gary-l-francione-8902_animals_as-discussed-earlier-humans-who-lack-the_1873416.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/537/gary-l-francione-8902_animals_as-discussed-earlier-humans-who-lack-the_1873416.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/537/gary-l-francione-8902_animals_as-discussed-earlier-humans-who-lack-the_1873416.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“As discussed earlier, humans who lack the reflective self-awareness of normal adults, such as those with…” — Gary L. Francione", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Gary L. Francione", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“As discussed earlier, humans who lack...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/as-discussed-earlier-humans-who-lack-the-reflective-self-awareness-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/as-discussed-earlier-humans-who-lack-the-reflective-self-awareness-of/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```