mellifluous glass optics
- Posted: Sun, 17 Feb 2013 12:08:30 +0000
Speciesism involves the assignment of different values, rights, or special consideration to individuals solely on the basis of their species membership. The term is mostly used by animal rights advocates, who argue that speciesism is a prejudice similar to racism or sexism, in that the treatment of individuals is predicated on group membership and morally irrelevant physical differences. The argument is that species membership has no moral significance.
Speciesism is something I came across not terribly long ago on gaia while reading a debate about whether or not people should be allowed to have sex with animals, or judged for having sex with animals. The argument was that just because animals do not vocalize consent, does not mean they cannot consent. After all, dogs have been used for sex for decades at the very least, and seem to show just as much interest in mounting a human as they do another dog (or the house cat, or whatever).
Now, to my understanding, speciesism is generally a term used by vegans or the like who oppose various forms of non-human treatment of animals, to include eating them.
But lately it seems to be picking up momentum in the pro-animal sex field. The question of consent has long been debated, and I'd like to know your views on the matter. Do you feel speciesism should also encompass those who discriminate against sex with animals? Do you feel such discrimination is/isn't warranted?