Speciesism

“As the top species we decide which animals deserve our compassion and which are merely food.”

I don’t love all animals. I don’t even like most of them. I only love my cat, Aloo. So in my mind cats, dogs, and other companion animals exist for companionship and affection.

And then if I ate chicken or beef for dinner, then these animals existed solely for my consumption.

And never the two should meet? That’s the line my dad drew, that’s the line America drew, and it’s worked out pretty well so far.

But is this logical, or is this just a socially constructed bias?

A Line in the Sand

Why is it barbaric to eat a cat or dog, but completely normal to eat a cow, a pig, or a chicken? Why is it gross to eat a insect like a cricket, or something like a guinea pig, but perfectly acceptable to eat fish or octopus?

Let’s check out some possible justifications:

• Is it intelligence? Pigs are among the smartest animals on the planet. But they are among the most exploited for food as well. They’re as smart as dogs and cats (although Aloo can’t even find a treat thrown directly in front of him sometimes) so why is it acceptable to eat them?
• Is it emotional capacity? Cows have feelings, depression, and even best friends. Chickens have actual social hierarchies (Pecking Order!)
• Is it religious or cultural mandate? We cannot rely on either religion or culture to determine which animals are acceptable to eat and which are not. They do not provide consistent rationales across different societies and time periods.
• Is it the prey vs predator distinction? Why would this make it acceptable?
• Is it the nutritional value? Again, why does it matter if one animal provides more protein or nutrients than another when we can thrive on plant-based sources that provide all necessary nutrition?
• Is it the ability to feel pain? All of the animals we eat have a brain and central nervous system meaning they definitely can feel pain.

There may be differences between species, but none that justify treating some as food and others as companions. The one thing tying them all together is their shared capacity to suffer and desire to live.

You Speciesist?

The only difference between Aloo and a cow in a factory farm is my own perception handed down to me by family, friends, and society at large. Does that make it automatically right?

When I got a cat, I saw an individual with a personality who deserved protection. Whereas I didn’t even register cows or chickens on any level other than a commodity, food, or protein. They are hidden away, categorised as “livestock,” so I would forget about them entirely when making daily choices.

This is might makes right. As the most powerful species, we draw the line and say to ourselves, “They don’t count because they aren’t in the club, and they’re tasty.”

Animals want to live, avoid pain, and feel safe just as much as Aloo does. If I wouldn’t pay someone to hurt my cat for a 20 min meal I wouldn’t even remember the next day, logic dictates I have no business paying someone to do it to a cow.