The Personhood Debate: Should Dolphins and Apes Be Granted Legal Rights?

Abstract

Course name Instructor’s name Assignment due date What Makes a Person? I chose the topic since it presents an important moral and legal issue in the world today and will affect how people interpret morality. The definition of a person has been critical in the legal field and presents critical questions of how actions affect other beings. I have thought about the treatment of animals before particularly in scientific research but never viewed the issue on whether they meet the characteristics of a person. By reading about the question, I had the opportunity to explore the arguments that animal advocates could use to justify their course. Laws are based on morality and the reading shows that moral standards on the treatment of animals are changing. It was interesting to learn how the definition of a person could affect the overall issue of using animals as a means to human end. The topic explores an important moral and legal issue in the 21st century and describes aspects of the legal framework that could change to ensure the protection of animals such as dolphins or apes. The arguments discussed on the topic seek to demonstrate the potential criteria for characterizing a person. In legal matters, a person does not necessarily mean a human being and includes corporations that can enter into binding contracts. Additionally, the question of intelligence and the capacity for fellowship shows that “another” includes dolphins. They are sociable animals able to express emotion and psychological distress as a result of their isolation from other dolphins. A person is capable of understanding and reacting to mistreatment and torture as expressed by dolphins and articulate apes. Using such animals as a means to an end as they are in scientific labs constitutes immoral actions. Dolphins are able to form deep emotional and lasting relationships with other dolphins and humans providing their care. With training, they are able to imitate and...