Topic 7 Commonality Flashcards
1
Q
What is commonality?
A
The belief that all living creatures are part of the same process of development
2
Q
Why might Christians agree with commonality?
A
- all living things + humans created by God, so part of same process of development
- Christians that believe in evolution -> humans have evolved same way as animals -> biologically same process of development
3
Q
What does Lynn White believe?
A
- that Christianity is most anthropocentric (human focussed) religion and has been used to promote idea that you can exploit nature for your own needs
- believes in stewardship instead, and should feel guilty for harming the environment
- agrees with St Francis of Assisi that we should respect all nature (animate and inanimate)
“ brother ant and sister fire, praising the creator in their own ways as Brother man does in his”
4
Q
What did Francis of Assisi believe?
A
- patron saint of environment and animals
- preached that all creatures including animals and plants, are ‘brothers and sisters’ under God.
- reflects idea of commonality, and the fact that animals should be respected
5
Q
How do Buddhist and Hindu views link to commonality/
A
- animals connected as part of same cycle of samsara (cycle of life death rebirth)
- there is commonality evident
- to take an animal life could be taking life of potential human
- Buddhists have principle of ahimsa (non harm) which is supposed to apply to all living beings
6
Q
What does Peter singer believe?
A
- humans and animals = equal
- treating animals as inferior = speciesist
- reflective of commonality
7
Q
Why do many non religious people support animal rights charities?
A
RSPCA, WWF because animals dont have a voice so have a responsibility to look after them
8
Q
Why are some non religious people veg or vegan/
A
- wrong to kill any sort of life
- unnecessary to kill when we can get nutrients from other sources
9
Q
Why does Kant not accept commonality?
A
Human beings are rational
- sets us apart from animals, therefore we have a completely different nature to animals, and we aren’t common
10
Q
Why do some people not agree with commonality?
A
- dont share common features with animals
- have evolved to be far superior, eg tech and formulate laws, societies
- reject commonality and more dominance
