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Summary Of A Change Of Heart About Animals By Jeremy Rifkin

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Nicole Thai 1603
Bajet - Blk 4
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15 September 2014

Response to “A Change of Heart About Animals” by Jeremy Rifkin There has always been a hierarchy among the creatures of nature. Within this accepted hierarchy, humans have always deemed themselves superior to the animals we share the earth with. According to Jeremy Rifkin’s article, “A Change of Heart About Animals,” research has shown that animals are more similar to humans than originally believed. Through the many studies provided, Rifkin claims the need to provide better treatment towards animals. While animals deserve and could benefit from a more humane treatment than what is currently provided, they may not necessarily require a human-like lifestyle simply because of their similarities to humans. …show more content…

As said by Lois Frazier, “Animals have a right to live without being confined, exploited, tormented, or eaten.” With the similarities animals have with humans, this right is something animals should possess, hence the animal-rights laws. Animals deserve to live in a comfortable environment just as humans do. However even with similar skills, just as Koko the gorilla has language skills, animals would not need them for survival the way humans do. Humans communicate through their own languages, but these languages may not be necessary for Koko. Bob Stevens asked, “Can an animal write a poem, or even a grocery list?” Even if an animal could do such things, it is not necessary for their livelihood. Animals and humans live according to how they adapt to nature, just as the theory of evolution states. Animals are “ creatures with whom we share the Earth” (3). Humans now live in materialism, and while animals are subject to harsh treatment and deserve an improvement to their circumstances, forcing a lifestyle that contrasts what is natural to them is

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In the op-ed piece “A Change of Heart about Animals”, Jeremy Rifkin emphasizes the similarities between humans and animals by providing results on scientific research studies to illustrate that humans should be more empathetic towards animals. In addition, he further explains how research results have changed the ways humans perceived animals and indicates solutions that were taken by other countries and organizations to help improve and protect animal rights. Rifkin provides examples that demonstrate animals have emotions, conceptual abilities, self awareness, and a sense of individualism just like humans. For example, Pigs crave for affection and get depressed easily when isolated, two birds Betty and Abel have tool making skills, Koko

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Jeremy Rifkin, the president of the Foundation on Economic Trends in Washington D.C and author of “A Change of Heart About Animals” (2003), argues in this article that animals are much more like humans than we thought and that we should expand our empathy to our fellow creatures. Rifkin develops his thesis by comparing the similarities between humans and animals. An example of this is in paragraph 11 when he claims that animals show a sense of their own mortality and the mortality of their kin just like humans do. He supports this claim by giving an example of elephants standing next to their dead children for days after they have passed. The author gives that example of the elephants in order to make the reader understands just how aware these

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As a whole, Rifkin argues the importance of treating animals with respect based on the fact that animals share characteristics with humans. I agree that animals do deserve to be treated with respect and honor, but should animals really be treated like human beings? One must look at the imperfect world we live in, it is man against man, the survival of the fittest. This evolutionary concept even takes place in the animal kingdom, one must hunt and kill for survival. Thus, will giving a pig a toy or assuring that animals are happy, change the fact that they be slaughtered and become man’s source of nutrition?

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