Hi Fusion,
This thread goes on to discuss more dinifitive difinition and differences between morals and ethics. Eventually, how far we expand our moral thinking or our ethical behavior will be discussed.

You are correct that we are capable of greater food production than ever in history, but at what cost?

Animals have feelings, both physical and emotional. Animals, as others will go on to say, have individual personalities and those that live in groups are also socialized by that group. From ants and bees to big cats and wolves. Herd animals and those that are easily domesticated are also socialized but even domesticated animals if given sufficient opportunity can return to the wild.

Instead we enslave them for our purposes which may not be a bad thing if they are still allowed to live contentedly, in other words if they are provided the same basic types of necessities that humans think are necessary for happy, productive and fulfilling lives. Yet we do not consider the physical and emotional needs of these animals beyond what is necessary to serve us.

Now consider that slavery, as it was in the United States, consisted of the mindset that black people were some sub-standard species, no more than any other domesticated animal. Keep that in mind. A bond formed between a male and female and a baby is conceived. The pregnant black animal was a new commoditiy and might fetch a good price. Or the child that is born is a male and the mother and father are large and strong workers, that child could fetch a good price and a better price if several years prove the strength and worthiness of that child. These people were branded and sometimes pierced and the only medical attention was to keep a worker working. Little regard was given to physical and emotional well-being. We were able to do this because, as a society we were desesitized to the similarities of black people to whites. We were socialized to recognize color with an animal mentality.

Imagine if we had respect for animals. If we recognized they do have emotions, feel pain and even have personalities, would we ever have that kind of slavery? If we should ever encounter another life form as old as humanity quite different, perhaps a human equivalent of bees or cows, will we try to communicate, try to learn from them? Or will be subjugate them, see them as a commodity without realizing that the echosystem of their planet depended on thier very being?

The morality that surrounds life and what are the basic needs and expectations of that life must be extended to all life or we begin to thing in slave mentality.

Animals serve a puprose in and of themselves, not strictly as a means to an end for any other life. Though we see several species subsist at the expense of another life, we cannot stop looking beyond that expense. There is an interconnectedness in nature. Herd animals are many and those that prey on them are few but they keep the herd from over population. The herd animal grazes keeping fields from becoming jungles and thus other animals can exist. It goes on and on, but it does not end or begin with humans, we are part of the connection.

Someone mentioned that personal choice must play a role, yes it does. Some see the treatment of animals and cannot take part in preserving it and others make choices that are different and there are a variaty of reasons, but no matter the reason if we allow the horrer we inflict on other life to continue we are setting the stage for other horrors in the future of other life and endangering the echosystem for us all.