Animal Rights Literature Review

As far as equality goes, there are no rules by which a person can be judged to be inferior to another person. There are differences, but these differences do not constitute a valid basis for discrimination, which is often the case with racism and sexism. As Singer argues, equality is a moral ideal rather than an assertion of a fact. The principle of equality is based on the fact that there are no moral differences between living beings.
Singer exposes the way in which animals are being used in order to satisfy human taste in food by saying that such exploitation is unacceptable because if a being suffers, there cannot be any moral justification for causing this suffering. From the perspective of equality as a moral guideline, as something common for all life, it is indeed true, therefore, what humans do to animals is violating the moral right not to suffer or be exploited by another living being, which we all share.
The fact that humans are biased in favor of their own species is an example of what Singer calls speciemism, the belief that the human species are superior to another species because they are more intelligent and self-aware. Humans believe that a mentally challenged person is equal in rights with an intelligent one, but decline the right of the dog to be treated equally with humans, even when a dog’s consciousness is on the same level as of mentally challenged person. This is a valid point because, as was discussed before, the right for equality cannot be biased by differences like intelligence, self-awareness or level of organization; instead, as highly intelligent beings, it is humans’ duty to recognize and accept the fact that any other living being is as much worthy to live and not be violently exploited, as any human person.