Why do people place themselves above other lifeforms?

Question

Basically, humans are just a congregation of cells, organized by our own DNA. We are just a self organized mixture of chemicals, yet we place ourselves over other forms of life that are equally adapted to their environments.

People will kill helpless insects and spiders for no reason aside from them being "gross"; without considering the day to day lives they attempt to live out. Although it is perfectly natural to kill other organisms for sustenance, as that is how nature works.

One of the major flaws of humanity is our ego. From delusions of us being the 'chosen ones from god' to our viewpoint of being the dominant species. We do not consider there is more to the world than we ourselves can see, and many people just blame these things on 'god'. There are plenty of species of bacteria that are vastly more populous and successful than humans, not to mention the countless insect species. We see ourselves as the smartest species on the earth. We are the smartest at HUMAN things, so all the other species must be inferior, right? No, just another delusion .
Humans have not been around very long at all, and the way things are looking, we will likely die out from overpopulation or disease before too long, not to mention all the violence we create on a day to day basis.

So my questions is: What compels you to think in this way? or if you do not think like this: What has made you adapt the more abstract viewpoint?

Answer 1

From an evolutionary point of view, it's because we can. Every species wants to be at the top of the food chain, but Homo Sapiens got there first. Hell, we annihilated species of other people (the Neanderthals as a prime example) just to eliminate the competition and be Alpha.

Answer 2

Man and perhaps dolphins are the only animals to make choices based NOT on what is best for the individual, but rather with concern about others. When you think about it you will see that is our conscience that truly separates us from other animals. We are not ruled by our instincts. An animal who attacks another animal because he is hungry is not acting in a good manner nor an evil manner. Those concepts are meaningless to him. It is the fact that we make moral choices that DOES place us above most other lifeforms.

Answer 3

Well, as an atheist, I like to think - outside - the bible.



I know when I find a spider, sometimes I will catch it with a cup and paper and release it outside mostly because I don't feel like cleaning up spider guts.



Other times, it's because the thing is in MY living space, MY territory, so as the owner of my living space and territory, I kill it. I'm pretty sure if I were to walk into some other animal's living space, say a bear or wolf pack, I'd probably get the same treatment as the spider; they'd either chase me out or eat me.

Answer 4

I hate bugs. yes they do gross me out but I only kill them because as others said they are in my space and you can't tell a bug to leave. it does not matter though as scientifically I'm pretty sure a bug would not feel it. I suggest you try having an infestation and then tell me you would not kill a bug.

I eat meat because I would not survive as a vegetarian..yeah it sucks but it's how the world works and is the only reason one should kill those animals.



I love dogs though and get sad when they are abused because they are a lot smarter than some people think. don't forget fleas hurt our beloved doggies..why let them live.

in fact I love my boy so much that I value his life over a lot of humans. people generally suck but while dogs can be a pain, they are very loyal and loving creatures.

Answer 5

I think therefore I am. No animal has understanding of itself or anything else in that capacity. We are more than just cells, that view has been shown to be the view of almost every mass murder this planet has ever seen, from Genghis Khan to Joseph Stalin.

I think the way I do for religious reasons, man knows right from wrong, we know that murder is wrong, as is deception, and stealing also. We know this instinctual with no prompting which is a clear show of a higher power. There could be no absolute rights without someone to make them.

I believe the way I do because of the way I was raised, I'm not ashamed to admit that my parents faith influenced my life.

I believe the way I do because I think that view of life will make men to begin to act like animals, to think like them, to think about desire and not whether what they do is right or wrong.

Answer 6

Yea, I'm with Lillith on this one. My dog kills squirrels in the backyard sometimes and doesn't even draw blood. I really think that ALL us animals have a basic desire to kill. It comes from the need to eat, but there is a certain satisfaction that comes when we kill a lowly mosquito or cockroach. I could never watch a cockroach crawl in front of me and NOT want to kill it. And THEY are the MOST successful lifeforms on planet earth, right?



Having said that, for humans it's a matter of compassion, Lots of people become vegans because they don't want to eat anything that lived. But whose to say carrots don't have a consciousness or didn't suffer? Life sucks because it requires us to EAT other life to survive. Perhaps you should become a Jainist...

;)

Answer 7

hi, i've got been a vegetarian for 40 5 years and went vegan later. people are animals; our ascendency to being the "dominant" species on our planet exchange into based completely on survival for an prolonged time. gradually, faith have been given into the act and gave guy dominion over animals interior the bible, and comparable texts of alternative religions. This developed into cultural traditions which continued even while there exchange into no probability from yet another animal or the choose for nutrition. i do no longer think of we've the superb to view different animals as subordinates considering each and every intrinsic fee even however we ought to no longer comprehend what this fee is. I wish i ought to furnish you some lofty reason of having this attitude, in spite of the undeniable fact that it exchange into extremely tripped an prolonged time in the past by using analyzing technological know-how fiction.

Answer 8

Because God gave man dominion over all the animals of the earth.(read Genesis)

That doesn't mean I have no respect for life, I would not even kill a spider, but then, I don't eat them either.

Man is the only animal on earth that will kill for no reason.

Answer 9

We are generally top of our food chain (apart from the odd encounter with shark, tiger, bear etc). In our usual urban environment, our main predator is ourselves, we are more likely to die of heart disease than any pathogen. However, outside of our normal habitat e.g. the Jungles in India, we generally do not survive very long at all.



People kill spiders because their parents and communities have done so before them. I don't kill spiders, I have instructed my wife not to kill spiders and surprise, surprise, my daughter does not kill spiders. It is purely cultural and and education.



We are too insular in our nations for overpopulation, disease and war to cause a mass extinction. Our extinction will come from asteroid strike if we do not manage to get off the planet before it happens.

Answer 10

First of all, the primary directives of almost all living things is to ensure the survival of itself and its species. The reasons humans place themselves over other lifeforms is because their agenda is to advance their own species, just like an ants agenda is to expand its own colony. This is perfectly natural. Second of all, the reason people commonly kill insects is A: They can cause problems in a household (such as food infestation, wood damage, etc), B: They are annoying, and C: they are not supposed to be in someone's home. I rarely come across a human who kills bugs for fun, and if they do, they probably have some psychological problem. The life span of many insect is extremely small anyway, and they don't have "day to day lives". Many species of flies only live a few days. In addition, many bugs are hive minded (don't have independent minds) such as ants. Thirdly, population does not measure success; there are way more chickens on this planet than there are humans, and that is because we breed and eat them. If we didn't, they would likley go extinct. Fourthly, Other animals are not capable of having ego because they are not sentient. Any animal that evolves to sentience would likley have "ego" as well as other complex thoughts. Fourthly: We are the smartest species on earth; we are the only sentient beings on this planet that we know of. Five, it is ignorant to label the whole human race as seeing themselves as "chosen ones from god". I am agnostic, and there is a large community of people who don't believe in a god. Plus, I've never heard that "chosen one" thing ever in my life. Sixth, Animals can be just as violent and ruthless (wolves hunting, monkeys have territorial wars, etc). Seventh, you cant "die out" from overpopulation, just think about it for five seconds. Don't get me wrong, humanity has its flaws, but so does every other life form, and any life for that evolves to sentience would likley do things we do. So if humanity died tomorrow, roaches could become sentient over many years and fill in our shoes. Your hatred of humans is kind of naive and unjust.

Answer 11

All life does that. Not just humans.



You do know that Fox's have been known to kill livestock without actually eating said livestock, right?



Go ask a fox.

Answer 12

Agreed, all humans and all other sentient beings share in the same suffering... there's really not much that separates a human from any other being. I've only slowly come to this realization myself, but it's hard to say that you want to work on being more compassionate and not extending that same compassion to all living beings.



peace

Answer 13

All species do harm to lower species. Look at baboons, lions etc..

Answer 14

I place trees and algea above all because they give us oxygen.

Answer 15

Fine, come over here and I will step on you and squish you like a spider. Happy?

Answer 16

Well, we are the dominant life form on this planet. We influence the lives of other species, not the other way around.

Answer 17

Angie, sorry you are feeling negative. I hope you feel better.

Things are not so bad with Jesus. Repent. God is good and he protects us ok.

Answer 18

The very fact that other animals feel so many of the same basic feelings as we do (pain, depression, etc.) is enough to treat them well.

Answer 19

It's survival of the fittest... And we're winning!

Answer 20

The bible said in Genesis that God created all the creatures for us to rule over, and that makes sense because we are at the top of the food chain. would you like a bear to rule over you? i don't think so.

Answer 21

Of course they do, but that is true of all nature.

Answer 22

Truly, survival of the fittest, depends how you look at it. Your very closed minded

Answer 23

Because Bible said:

Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and LET THEM RULE over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."



You must not be reading bible at all, but ask people who dont know anything.

Read the Bible. Answers will come along

Answer 24

Because We're too Dumb- to notice OTHERwise ! ;)

Answer 25

Because they can.

Answer 26

because we invented chocolate