On Friday, February 8th, Aula Animal gave a talk to a group of 1st year Baccalaureate students in the Philosophy subject.
The talk, titled "We Are No Different," focused on ethological studies that demonstrate the abilities of non-human animals to use tools, develop language, cultivate culture, exhibit self-awareness, show altruism, possess memory, understand death, and so on. Throughout history, these criteria have been used to demonstrate the superiority of humans and, therefore, to justify the exploitation of non-human animals.
In the talk, in addition to citing examples in which animals were indeed able to develop these skills, the idea was defended that even in the case of lacking them, it would not justify the exploitation of the weak by the strong.