Single Idea 4263

[catalogued under 25. Social Practice / F. Life Issues / 6. Animal Rights]

Full Idea

Most of the stranger forms of life (worms, fleas, locusts etc.) are not really suitors for our moral concern, and interest us primarily as species, and only rarely as individuals.

Gist of Idea

Many of the stranger forms of life (e.g. worms) interest us only as a species, not as individuals

Source

Roger Scruton (Animal Rights and Wrongs [1996], p.13)

Book Reference

Scruton,Roger: 'Animal Rights and Wrongs' [Demos 1996], p.13


A Reaction

Interesting, but that seems to reflect on us, rather than cutting nature at the joints. As soon as you look closely, you recognise an individual rather than a member of a species.