Are Chimpanzees 'Persons'? - Essay Sample

Introduction

Chimpanzees can recognize themselves in a mirror; communicate through sign language; pursue goals creatively, and form long-lasting friendships. Because they have these traits that we associate with "persons," chimpanzees, and perhaps other higher-order mammals, should have "rights" like human persons, and not be categorized as property that someone can own and dispose of like other property.

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The main distinction between the people and the persons in really important in that some parts of the current and apparent absurdity is perfectly that within the earth surface, the general argument about the personhood in most cases may sound like saying that chimpanzees should have the same right as that of any other human being and this in real sense might include search ideas like the ability to own property and even to participate in an election(Rosati, Alexandra, and Brian, 2012). But on the other category of describing the chimpanzees as a person then it is a legal describing them as beings that are at a position to possess certain fundamental rights but not to be able to possess all the rights as adult human beings(Hopper, Lydia M. et al, 32). The case of the chimpanzee, therefore, should mainly major on their right to bodily liberty which could enable the recognition of them as legal beings rather than referring to them as "things" (Hopper, Lydia M. et al, 25).

Scientifically speaking and according to the scientific truths is that all the autonomous beings have the ability to choose freely how to leave their life and they are not, in any case, a cabinet to any kind of instinct. Therefore in relation to all these factors, the chimpanzeesfamily cannot be considered as human beings but instead, they should be treated and considered as special beings and should not be categorized as things(Rosati, Alexandra, and Brian, 44).

One of the most obvious criteria for an animal is the ability to suffer and to feel pain and traditional the rights of all the animal welfares have majorly focused on the aspect of the animals' welfare. In regards to this therefore if treating animals in some ways may inflict pain and cause them to suffer then it a right to say that such a treatment is wrong (Hopper, Lydia M. et al). However in the case of a personhood then it seems to entail more than just the capacity to suffer and to feel pain. For several researchers, they hinge to the fact that various types of animals are always autonomous and self-directed (Sebo n.d). That issue of autonomous according to the researchers shows up more clearly in whatever case we consider the animal social cognition and this can be achieved by enquiring how various animals interact with members of its own species and those of the different species (Rosati, Alexandra, and Brian, 2012). According to the various researches that has been carried out and my main argument I general is that chimpanzees cannot be classified as human being. But they should be considered as special beings due to the fact that they possess various similar traits as compared to human beings however much their traits cannot allow them to be considered as human beings (Hopper, Lydia M. et al).

Conclusion

In conclusion, chimpanzees should not be referred to like things but instead should be identified as being. Chimpanzees possess rights in relation to their welfare but in any case cannot possess the rights that are enjoyed by adult human being. The main reason is that they have several characters, traits, and capability as compared to human beings. Even though, all animals are treated as things by the United States law, they have a legal right that bans some form of animal cruelty.

Works Cited

Hopper, Lydia M. et al. "Behavioral Research as Physical Enrichment for Captive Chimpanzees". Zoo Biology, vol 35, no. 4, 2016, pp. 293-297. Wiley,

Rosati, Alexandra G., and Brian Hare. "Chimpanzees And Bonobos Exhibit Divergent Spatial Memory Development". Developmental Science, vol 15, no. 6, 2012, pp. 840-853. Wiley,

Jeff Sebo. "Are Chimpanzees 'Persons'? New York Times, 4/8/2018. Web.