Ape rights and the myth of animal equality
The Spanish parliament heads to pass a resolution giving several species of apes similar rights as humans.
The resolution, approved last week by a parliamentary committee with broad support, urges the government to implement the agenda of the Great Ape Project, an organization whose founding declaration says apes “may not be killed” or “arbitrarily deprived of their liberty.” No more routine confinement. According to Reuters, the proposal would commit the government to ending involuntary use of apes in circuses, TV ads, and dangerous experiments.
I think of the double-sided koan in Daniel Quinn’s excellent book Ishmael:
With man gone, will there be hope for Gorilla?
With Gorilla gone will there be hope for Man?