Animal essay

Abstract

This essay examines the philosophical and religious evolution of the human-animal relationship, emphasizing the shift from theological anthropocentrism to a more naturalistic and respectful perspective. Beginning with the Judeo-Christian creationist framework, where animals are seen as subordinate to humans, the text analyzes ancient sacrificial practices in Greece, Persia, and Judaism. It then explores modern critiques of human superiority through figures like Pascal, Giordano Bruno, and Schopenhauer, who condemned humanity's cruelty toward animals. The essay concludes by arguing that animals possess an inherently justified role in nature, unlike humans, and advocates for expanding the moral sphere to include non-human animals and the broader natural world, resonating with Peter Singer's ethics and contemporary ecological principles.