Alternative Antiracism Argument - Paper Example

Racism is a topic that has been in the global arena for a very long time. It is the situation where one is segregated or sidelined due to racial difference. Some countries such as Germany have numerous cases of racism Antiracism; however, is the move against racism. It has also gained popularity as it champions for equity among people. Antiracism is where people are against rules that require for people to be treated differently due to the difference in their race. Antiracism is what most countries in this century are championing for. Most of the countries in the world are against racism. Speciesism is another idea that is similar meaning like racism or even sexism. The only difference is that speciesism also included animals. Peter Singer has tried to describe speciesism as issuing of different rights and special considerations to other individuals based on their species. This is a precise definition of racism from a species rather than race point of view. Speciesism refers to the special consideration of nonhuman living things such as animals and plants. Peter Singer has provided some of the reasons why he is against this idea. He has written articles that prove his antiracism idea, and so this was not an exception. He, therefore, presents anti-speciesism as his alternative for antiracism. This paper is going to view the debates on speciesism as the alternative of antiracism arguments and give reasons why it takes its stance at no; it should not be promoted.

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First, those that support speciesism argue that human beings exploit other species to sustain theirs. They further claim that speciesism is important as it is important regarding moral conduct hence plausible. Those that do not offer distinction to species are more than confident that they will be misapprehended their real obligations. This is what they say is the consequence for those that do not consider speciesism. Those for the idea say racism and sexism are wrong since there are rights against them and this rights state that everybody ought to be equal. As for speciesism, the case is different because animals are of the various kinds regarding species, they, therefore, have the right to be treated differently.

Secondly, proposers of the speciesism idea argue that some of the proponents of speciesism are of the idea that animals live so that human beings may utilize them. They imply that all species are subject to manipulation by humans hence the reason to support speciesism. They further claim that there is what entitles the different species to a different kind of treatment according to which all depends on the master that takes them in and stay with them. This second argument is at times based on religious views, and they argue that God himself during creation gave man dominion over animals.

However, those that are against the idea of speciesism are always on the winning end since the arguments they present are more factual and have more support than their proposing counterparts. To begin with, the anti-speciesism claim that speciesism if looked at considering human beings as a species too, then should not be practiced as we are all entitled to equal treatment. That aside they say that it is not moral enough to have people being treated or given special treatment due to some difference that is imaginal created. Still, according to those that are anti-speciesism sided argue that is immoral to treat somebody differently and not like a brother simply because they are not of the same kind as you are. Some scholars that are for the idea also argue that speciesism is bias.

Biologists that argue against speciesism say that they compare the former days racist and the present day scientist that practice speciesism. They say that it is not only animals that need to be exempted from speciesism but also human beings. They describe this situation as discontinuous mind, and they say that it is something that makes use of language and animals after distinguishing them into discontinuous species. This shows that Singer was trying to address the issue of racism using animal species as an alternative and indeed he succeeded in this.

Thirdly, there is the great ape personhood perspective which they use to support the idea against speciesism. It states that species that are not human ought to have their personhood guarded by the law and not just by the act of violation of animal rights. The rights of these animals need to be looked at from a broader concept other than the animal rights violation. He says that they need to be protected and not just left there for any person who feels like he should abuse their rights to do so. By so doing, they shall have taken the personal interest of the organism in question into consideration. That in one way protects against speciesism and thus the need for its consideration.

Fourthly, another perspective onto which the opposers of speciesism look at the issue with are the centrality of consciousness. Ideally, this perspective talks about the intrinsic value of nature and say that it is impossible to compare this value with sentient beings. The centrality of consciousness does not only apply to animals but also any other living thing with a nerve system. This idea strongly opposes the counter idea that value cannot exist in the absence of consciousness. Here, not only are the rights of animals and human beings being considered but also those of other natural things that are of value to humans. The idea that the features with no conscious deserve no value is vague they are valuable to us humans, and therefore speciesism should not have conscious as an excuse to go ahead practicing it.

Summarily, the idea that singer is presenting to us is that of racism. He opposes racism and in this case, tries to use animals or rather non-human species to show his objection on the same. Speciesism has been defined as the act of having special consideration to some beings such based on the difference in their species. Singer presents the idea of antiracism in the form of anti-speciesism as an alternative way to address the same issue. The debate of anti-racism is heated globally and has had many people give their opinion about it. Still, those that are to the idea of speciesism have lost the debate as the opposers seem to have stronger reasons as to why the idea should not be encouraged. The concept of speciesism needs not to be promoted as it is in some way a form of racism though in an indirect manner.