Rejecting Human Dignity

If the idea of human dignity is abandoned what should take its place? Moral Individualism is a thesis pertaining to the how individuals are to be treated. An indiiviiduals treatment should be determined by considering not by ther group members but by their own unique characteristics. If Darwin is correct there are no distinct differences between humans and membres of other species. rather than sharp breaks between species there are differences in degrees. there is a complex pattern of siiilarities and diifferences that all reflect a common ancestry among species. With this thought human diigniity is discredited becasue they are no longer special. Animals and humans experience an array of feelings and emotions. The phrase that all men are equal iis not true. This is merely a code for how to treat people. All people should be treated equally. " Wether a difference between individuals ustifiies a difference iin treatment depends on the kind pf treatment that is in question. A difference that justfies one kind of difference in treatment need not justify another." (Rachels p 178 Created from Animals) Consider the treatment of a chimp versus a shrimp. Because a chimp is curious and intellegent it can easiily suffer from boredom. A chimp should then not be placed in a cage wiith no stimuli. Shrimp however cannot be bored becasue they are not intelegent in the same way. Therefore it may be permissable to treat shrimp in ways that would not be allowed for chimps.