Unraveling the Myth of Human Superiority in the Animal Kingdom

Have you ever heard anyone say, “It’s just a dumb cat”? I bet you’ve heard similar statements, not just about cats, but about animals in general. I have. Honestly, it’s pretty embarrassing to come from a species that says this statement. Challenging Speciesism: Rethinking Human Superiority is crucial, as I have noticed similar statements that have been said throughout our human history regarding gender, skin colour, and sexuality. The fact that we have not come to the realization that animals should also be respected as equals comes as a surprise to me. The misunderstanding of animal intelligence reveals our deep-rooted speciesism. Hopefully, this statement will go extinct sooner rather than later. I believe if we invested more time in understanding animals, we would realize how degrading and incorrect this statement is. Regardless of your perspective, I have something I want to share with you about “dumb” animals.

Why Did We Believe We Were the Only Intelligent Species?

The belief in human exceptionalism, the idea that we are the sole possessors of intelligence, stems from a combination of factors. Our focus on human-centric definitions of intelligence, like language and tool use, limited our ability to recognize these capacities in other species. This was further reinforced by a long history of anthropocentrism, where human needs and perspectives were placed above all else. This bias, coupled with a limited understanding of animal behavior, led to a profound underestimation of the cognitive abilities of other beings, ultimately hindering our appreciation for the diverse intelligence that exists within the animal kingdom. If you want to learn more about speciesism, I suggest you check out Speciesism: The Movie. Let’s delve into the heart of human psychology and our relationship with the natural world.

Reasons Why Humans Often Perceive Themselves as Superior to Other Species

• Cognitive Bias
  • Confirmation Bias: We tend to seek out and interpret information that confirms our existing beliefs. If we believe humans are superior, we’ll notice and emphasize human achievements while downplaying the remarkable abilities of other animals.
  • Self-Serving Bias: We naturally tend to view ourselves and our species in a positive light. This can lead to an inflated sense of our own importance and a tendency to downplay the intelligence and complexity of other creatures.
• Language and Culture
  • Human-centric Language: Our language often reflects a human-centric worldview. We use terms like “higher” animals and “lower” animals, which inherently imply a hierarchy with humans at the top.
  • Cultural Narratives: Many cultures have stories and myths that position humans as the pinnacle of creation or as having a unique dominion over the Earth.
• Technological Advancement: Humans have achieved remarkable technological feats, from space travel to sophisticated artificial intelligence. These advancements can easily lead to a sense of superiority as if our technology somehow proves our inherent superiority over other species.
• Lack of Understanding: Many people simply don’t understand the complexities of animal behavior and cognition. We often underestimate the intelligence, social structures, and emotional lives of other animals.

Interconnectedness of Life: Beyond Human Dominance

It’s crucial to recognize that the belief in human superiority is a harmful and inaccurate perspective. This belief, rooted in speciesism and the misunderstanding of animal intelligence, ignores the incredible intelligence exhibited by other species. Many animals demonstrate remarkable cognitive abilities, such as tool use, complex communication, problem-solving, and even self-awareness. All life is interconnected. We are part of a complex ecosystem, and the well-being of all species is interconnected. Currently, animals are being ignored. It is our responsibility to not only listen to them but to make sure their voice is heard. Whether it helps the human species or not, respecting animals is the right thing to do. By fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation for the diverse life on Earth, we can move towards a more respectful and sustainable relationship with the natural world.

Many Animals Demonstrate Remarkable Cognitive Abilities, Such As:

• Tool use: From chimpanzees using sticks to fish for termites to crows fashioning hooks from wire, animals exhibit ingenuity and adaptability in their use of tools.
• Complex communication: Whales communicate over vast distances using intricate songs and calls. Birdsong is a complex form of communication used for territory defense, mate attraction, and social bonding.
• Problem-solving: Dolphins work together to herd fish into shallow water, while elephants have been observed using tools to obtain water from deep wells.
• Self-awareness: Studies have shown that animals such as elephants, dolphins, and primates exhibit self-awareness, recognizing themselves in mirrors.

A Feline Critique of Humanity: Cats Think We Are Just Big Stupid Cats.

If I told you that cats think we are just big stupid cats… would you believe me? Chris Matyszczyk says, “Perhaps they do observe that we behave in ways not dissimilar to their own. They watch us wander around, hunt purposelessly, and bring home a ton of KFC” (taken from Article on Cnet, January 2014). Anthrozoologist John Bradshaw has sparked this concept. Wish you could walk up to that cat and tell them you are a very intelligent human species. I think most animals would feel offended. Maybe you already have respect for animals, or maybe this made you respect them more. It doesn’t take a genius to know when an animal is expressing themself. All you have to do is listen to them.

The Human Blind Spot: Misunderstanding Animal Intelligence

“For the longest time apes and monkeys were said not to recognize faces, and then, at some point, I learned that they were testing all these animals on human faces. And so we started testing chimps on chimp faces and they were perfectly good at it. And now, of course, we know that sheep can recognize faces, that the wasps can recognize faces… If you test them on our terms, which we have been doing for the longest time, and you find negative results, that doesn’t necessarily mean anything.” said Frans De Waal in his book: Are We Smart Enough to Understand How Smart Animals are?

I enjoyed every minute of reading this book, and I will read it again. When you have a moment, I urge you to listen to the free audio sample of his book. Frans argues that if we were to use standards of the animal itself, as opposed to human standards, we could measure their intelligence properly. This highlights a key issue in the study of animal cognition: Speciesism and the misunderstanding of animal intelligence. By imposing human-centric criteria, we often fail to recognize the unique forms of intelligence that exist within other species.

Does Intelligence Determine Worth?

Humans often judge others by how smart they are. The smarter you seem to them, the more respect humans typically give. It would be nice if this wasn’t true, but in reality, this is usually the case. Humans often give more respect to people they view as smart because intelligence is often associated with success, leadership, and valuable contributions to society, and we naturally admire and value those who possess these qualities. This tendency to equate intelligence with worth can sometimes lead to overlooking other valuable qualities and creating an unfair hierarchy among individuals. Let’s say we eventually do understand how smart animals are and develop a better respect for them.

• Would we listen to them then?
• What would it take for us to listen to animals?
• Would the animals forgive us for what we have done to them in the past?
• If we listen to the animals, what will it take for us to act in their defense (and vice-versa)?
• Does the human species need to understand animals to respect them?

Can We Handle Our Power?

Our relationship with the natural world is deeply flawed. We struggle to understand, listen to, and respect other animals. This raises a critical question: Can we truly handle the responsibility of being the dominant species on Earth? Our destructive behavior suggests otherwise. We are actively destroying the only home we have, demonstrating a profound lack of respect for the planet and its inhabitants. While we acknowledge the damage we’ve caused, our response is alarming: seeking to colonize other planets. This highlights a disturbing pattern of dominance and a disregard for the potential impact on other celestial bodies.

This flawed worldview is complex, touching on everything from our relationship with animals to ethical considerations of human overpopulation. For a deep dive into these moral questions, read my full perspective in “A Vegan Opinion on Abortion, Adoption, Choice & Overpopulation.“

Imagine if Mars had a voice. Would it permit us to inhabit its surface? This thought experiment underscores the absurdity of our current worldview, where we believe we have the right to exploit and dominate other species and even other planets. The concept of “Challenging Speciesism & Rethinking Human Superiority” is no longer just a philosophical debate; it’s a matter of our survival. We must learn to coexist with other species and respect the delicate balance of our planet. Our future depends on it.

A New Model for Survival: Interspecies Cooperation Beyond Speciesism

If you’re feeling offended by the whole cat thing, just remember, we thought other animals were dumb too. It doesn’t seem that crazy if you think about it. It makes a lot of sense. Cats think we’re just big “dumb” humans because they don’t understand us. We think we are superior to other animals, when in fact, we just don’t understand them. This reflects a deeply ingrained speciesism, where we view our own intelligence as inherently superior to that of other animals. Animals are smart in different ways. We have specialized skills to help us survive. Every species possesses unique strengths and intelligence. Rather than viewing these as competitive advantages, why not leverage them collectively? Imagine a ‘dream team’ of species, collaborating to address shared challenges. While this may seem daunting, it’s a far more constructive approach than our current trajectory – fleeing our problems by seeking to colonize other planets.

The Limits of Human Solutions

Perhaps we, as a species, are just another ‘dumb’ animal, but I see it as a challenge. We’ve gotten ourselves into quite the situation on earth. It seems unlikely we can solve it alone. If we could work with the rest of the animals on earth do you think we could save the earth? If only there were a way to communicate with such different species… (slight sarcasm). If we could successfully communicate with them, would the animals forgive us? Would they still work with us? Or maybe our egos are too ignorant to listen to someone so different from us.

Call me crazy, but we’re running out of options on earth. It’s deeply concerning that the threat of human extinction could trigger us to realize that we should show more respect and equality toward other animals. This includes listening to them when they try to speak up. Speciesism and the misunderstanding of animal intelligence emphasize the need to recognize the inherent value of all living beings and move beyond the anthropocentric worldview that has dominated human thought. Evolution is an amazing thing, in time we will see what the future holds.

“There is no fundamental difference between man and the higher mammals in their mental faculties… the difference in mind between man and the higher animals, great as it is, certainly is one of degree and not of kind.”

– Charles Darwin

Animal lover? Check out A Guide to Going Vegan For the Animals for more ways to show your love for animals.
Brought to you by The Vegan Experience.