Rationality of Animals vs. Humans

"Animals are not rational, only human beings are rational" (184). People have this weird idea that we are superior to all animals, that we are the kings that rule of the animal kingdom. Just because we can destroy huge parts of nature, and push other animals out of their homes, and take all we want from the planet doesn't mean that we are better than animals. In many cases we are much worse. The instructor in the book states "Animals kill for food. They act on instinct, that's it" (184). This is a funny statement to have as support for the first idea mainly because it is contradictory. Since animals kill for food, they are more rational than human beings who kill for much less. People kill animals for multiple reasons, food, coats, sport. People will also kill animals and waste most of the animal. American restaurants alone throw away a ridiculous amount of food every day; wasting the animals that they murdered without thinking twice about it. When it comes to animals killing other animals, they do it, then eat their prey. They don't slaughter vast amounts of other animals to make a profit.

When it comes to killing within species, animals are much more rational than humans. Animals will fight to defend their territory, protect their young, reasons like that. Humans will kill because someone has upset them, if there is an extreme disagreement, if they were raised to think it was OK, on accident, if they are crazy, if they are scared, and if they are in danger. There are other reasons but I can't think of all of them right now. Deo states "He had known cows and he had known militiamen, and for rationality he thought he'd take cows any day" (184). There are actually many people who would prefer being surrounded by animals rather than people. If people are so rational, then why would this be. Is it the rational people who would prefer to be surrounded by animals.

Most animals also don't lie. People lie every day, to enemies, friends, family, loved ones, themselves. Animals (as far as we know) don't lie, simply because they do not talk. Since they don't speak our language, they can't lie. How can we be more rational than animals if we aren't even inclined to tell the truth.