"Dolphins have been declared the world’s second most intelligent creatures after humans, with scientists suggesting they are so bright that they should be treated as “non-human persons”.
Studies into dolphin behaviour have highlighted how similar their communications are to those of humans and that they are brighter than chimpanzees. These have been backed up by anatomical research showing that dolphin brains have many key features associated with high intelligence.
The researchers argue that their work shows it is morally unacceptable to keep such intelligent animals in amusement parks or to kill them for food or by accident when fishing. Some 300,000 whales, dolphins and porpoises die in this way each year."
If this holds up and dolphins are considered more like a person than other animals, whiat would it mean for how we treat them? Would they have rights? Responsibilities?
"Thomas White, professor of ethics at Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, who has written a series of academic studies suggesting dolphins should have rights, will speak at the same conference.
“The scientific research . . . suggests that dolphins are ‘non-human persons’ who qualify for moral standing as individuals,” he said."
“Dolphins have been declared the world’s second most intelligent creatures after humans”
Interesting how no mention is actually made of the scientific body which made this declaration.
This article might be accurate and all, but it sure sounds to me like someone got fleeced by one bozo PHD at a university who’s never even seen a real dolphin.
All well and good, except that this suggests that we have compassion based on intelligence. Does this mean that we can ignore the rights of chickens, goldfish, and WalMart greeters?
That’s a derogatory stereotype and you know it. Not all dolphins like fish, and they’re not all happy “Uncle Flippers” who want to jump through hoops for your amusement.
I’m interested of the ethical implications of these kinds of things and all, but anyone who says we should respect dolphins because they are “non-human persons” is probably going to accomplish nothing, based on the wording alone.
Well, dolphins have a nasty habit of raping their females. Sometimes for days on end. Does this mean we will hold them accountable for such horrible acts? What will be their moral responsibility to society?
Also, if they’re so damn smart, why do the keep getting stuck in tuna nets?
Some countries have declared personhood for great apes or are working on it.
It’s not as extreme as it sounds. Like it’s not like they’re going to get the right to vote or be showing up at your workplace in a little tie carrying a briefcase or anything. It mostly just means that they have to be treated well. Like you can’t kill or abuse them or use them for experiments or as performers. The basic deal is, “right to life, liberty, and freedom from torture.”
Still, I don’t know what I think about declaring dolphins legal persons. I’m generally for it, as far as it being not cool to kill or torture them, but it’s an idea I’d have to get used to. I really think there should be a better name for the whole concept than “personhood” because that makes it sound so bizarre and extreme when really it’s mostly just about treating them better.
Be punished if they rape or murder other dolphins. And yes, it happens. If a male dolphin has raped a female in the past, should she be granted protection? Should he be isolated from others?
What rights does the female have in this case? What responsibilities does the male have?
Seems like treated them as a person has all kinds of messy implications.
Persons is a grammatical term. For dolphins to be treated as persons, one must address a member of their species as “you,” refer to them as “he” or “she,” and believe that individual dolphins think of themselves as an “I” and groups of dolphins think of themselves as “we.”
