Humans as Contrasted with, Humans as Included in the Class of Animals
Author(s)
MacIntyre, Alasdair
Abstract
MacIntyre examines the thought originating in the 16th century that divides the living from the inanimate. That is to say, humans should be viewed as members of animalia rather than separate, superior beings. He then attacks the popular argument that humans are superior due to “the capacity for having thoughts, or beliefs, or the ability to act for reasons, or the power to frame and use concepts.” He argues that animals share these abilities and then challenges the belief that animals do not have a language equal to humans. He also analyzes the interactive responses human children learn from experience and develop into recognition of intention. To show his point in a real world situation, MacIntyre compares in detail the act of human children learning to say “It hurts” when they are in pain to the act of a dog learning to sit.
IssueNo
Pages
11-19
Article
Article Not Available
Source
Dependent Rational Animals: Why Human Beings Need the Virtues
