This is a type of discrimination based on belonging to a specific species. From a moral perspective, it means considering members of certain species as more important than those from another species.
Richard Ryder, a psychologist and animal rights activist, coined this term in the 1970s. Decades later, Ryder explained the definition based on two approaches. On the one hand, it refers to the exploitation of non-human animals justified by a supposed lack of certain characteristics that are considered morally valuable. For instance, intelligence, autonomy, and reasoning. On the other hand, it refers to the exploitation of non-human beings simply because they are not humans. That is, discrimination and exploitation towards animals because they are considered a morally inferior species.
In terms of the preference of individuals of a species by non-human animals, Ryder explains that this discrimination is most likely based on instinct. In speciesism, the motivations are cultural and moral and based on the belief of superiority.
Expressions of speciesism occur in four main areas: clothing, food, entertainment, and experimentation. For example, the use of animal skins, breeding of animals for consumption and trade, cattle markets, rodeos, bullfights, hunting with bloodhounds, animals in zoos, and laboratory testing on animals, among other forms of animal exploitation.
From a linguistic point of view, expressions of speciesism are evident in the use of animals as insults: as blind as a bat; don’t be a chicken; and they treat us like animals.
Finally, many animal rights organizations introduce certain reflections and questions, for example: Why is it considered appropriate to eat cows and pigs, and not dogs or cats? For activists, it is important to recognize and respect all species as equals. They therefore propose living a vegan lifestyle, rejecting types of entertainment with animals, and not using leather or silk, for example.
Richard Ryder, a psychologist and animal rights activist, coined this term in the 1970s. Decades later, Ryder explained the definition based on two approaches. On the one hand, it refers to the exploitation of non-human animals justified by a supposed lack of certain characteristics that are considered morally valuable. For instance, intelligence, autonomy, and reasoning. On the other hand, it refers to the exploitation of non-human beings simply because they are not humans. That is, discrimination and exploitation towards animals because they are considered a morally inferior species.
In terms of the preference of individuals of a species by non-human animals, Ryder explains that this discrimination is most likely based on instinct. In speciesism, the motivations are cultural and moral and based on the belief of superiority.
Expressions of speciesism occur in four main areas: clothing, food, entertainment, and experimentation. For example, the use of animal skins, breeding of animals for consumption and trade, cattle markets, rodeos, bullfights, hunting with bloodhounds, animals in zoos, and laboratory testing on animals, among other forms of animal exploitation.
From a linguistic point of view, expressions of speciesism are evident in the use of animals as insults: as blind as a bat; don’t be a chicken; and they treat us like animals.
Finally, many animal rights organizations introduce certain reflections and questions, for example: Why is it considered appropriate to eat cows and pigs, and not dogs or cats? For activists, it is important to recognize and respect all species as equals. They therefore propose living a vegan lifestyle, rejecting types of entertainment with animals, and not using leather or silk, for example.