Thought provoking on empathy in humans and animals - Page 1

I always found Prof. Frans De Waal interesting.  Wonder what some of you will think about this transcript of his interview on empathy in humans and animals.  It's not too long a read but well worth the time spent or so I believe. 

http://wonderlancer.com/socialogue/frans-de-waal-the-age-of-empathy/

I attempted to read the article, but the page annoyed me, it kept jumping from the BS going on up top.  I'll see if I can find the same article in a different format.

Much better :)

http://www.ted.com/talks/frans_de_waal_do_animals_have_morals?language=en

Thanks GSD

I already came across this, not as a TED talk but adapted for the BBC.   De Waal makes

quite a lot of sense, but I wonder if what he says can or should ever be adopted willy-nilly as

applying to all animal / human relations ?  Chimps, and particularly Bonobos,  are very

genetically similar to humans.

If you start to talk about dogs (or lions, or horses, or bears, whatever) some of De Waal's

generalised statements start to look decidedly thin.

I think if there is a global idea that animals, all animals have emotions and cognitions similar to us, then hopefully there will be less cruelty, neglect, and disregard. If children are taught at a young age to have empathy and respect for living beings like animals, then imagine what the global impact would be?  We are all judged by how we treat those who are vulnerable. 

My friends all had farms and raised beef and dairy cattle, chickens, sheep, and pigs.  I remember when it was time to slaughter the animals, it was done quickly, as humanely as possible and most importantly, with respect.  The one time my friend's brother and his friends making fun of the pigs as they were slaughtered, his dad came over and asked what he thought he was doing and my friend's brother said, they were just having some fun and the pigs were going to be killed anyway.  The one time I saw her dad lose his temper and smack each of the boys, he then said, no matter what, just because they are going to be our food, they are still deserving of respect and kind treatment, don't ever forget that the Lord can take away what he provides if you do not treat each animal as a gift of life.  Of course that was so long ago.......

I don't disagree with that;  but we have to take care not to extrapolate too far in an

anthropomorphic direction, cos then we get all the bunny-hugging and baby talk and

"animal rights" excesses.  I am all for the  right of animals - particularly food animals -

to have their welfare needs respected ... but I think on that side, Temple Grandin is a

good deal more persuasive.

Love Temple Grandin, some of her points of view are not the same as mine but I think she has done amazing work.  I agree, animals are not humans and we are their caretakers and as such need to step up and do so.  A healthy balance is the key otherwise we end up with the looney PETA people (although I have been called a tree hugging granola mom before lolololol).