If Nietzsche Were a Narwhal: What Animal Intelligence Reveals About Human Stupidity

by Justin Gregg

I do, however, make an exception for mosquitoes, which I do kill. To me, violence is justified in the interest of self-preservation.

We all have individual ideas about how animals should be treated. But most of our ideas are not particularly well considered or derived from some complex ethical calculation. Most of us learn to treat animals from the culture around us, be it societal or familial.

Nonetheless, there is no widespread dog eating in Canada. It’s just a norm we abide by.

I explained that the cultural taboo for eating dog meat in Japan was the same taboo many North Americans feel when it comes to whale meat. I didn’t need to invoke any arguments about whale intelligence or population levels or cruel fishing practices or any of that.

I justify it because the chicken has already been turned into a patty.

In the United States, mice, rats, and birds bred for research are not considered animals according to the Animal Welfare Act, which is how research labs can sidestep welfare rules concerning their treatment.

As many as 95 percent of animals used in laboratory research in the US are exempt from federal law that would otherwise ensure their welfare.

“Whatever is done for love always occurs beyond good and evil,” wrote Nietzsche.2 Now that’s a sentiment I can get behind, my friend.