Today is Benjamin’s Birthday

Today is Benjamin’s birthday. He doesn’t remember anymore, but what a party he had the first time this happened. Balloons on the walls, confetti on the floor, and cheerful music marked a celebration of love. Most importantly, his entire family was present, showering him with hugs and kisses. Then life happened, and everything came to an end. Benjamin is now 14 years old and has been homeless since he can remember. Deemed “too old” to be adopted, he now spends his days merely surviving. Things we take for granted, such as staying warm on a cold night or having something to eat, are a privilege to him. He has, of course, done everything he can to change the situation. However, destiny appears to want Benjamin to remain alone.

I could write about the few times he gets help, but they are so rare and insignificant that it isn't worth it. Benjamin's scars, on the other hand, demand special attention as they tell a story of people abusing his innocence. Fear, anxiety, and mistrust have taken over his life, reflecting the constant humiliation he must endure to get through the day. Benjamin would like to raise his voice and ask for help. Unfortunately, he was born unable to speak. He would like to stand up to his bullies and give them what they deserve. Sadly, he lacks the necessary strength. Above all, he would like to be free of the piercing emptiness he feels deep within him. But he can't figure out what's causing it. You and I both know the root of his pain is his dignity being trampled on.

Whether or not Benjamin's story drove you to tears, I believe it's safe to presume you're outraged, or at least displeased, at the violation of his right to be respected for his own sake, to be treated ethically, and to be valued and appreciated. You probably feel the powerlessness that comes along seeing someone’s liberties being violated, especially if that someone is incapable of defending himself. You're possibly repulsed by the sight of someone's innate worth being crushed merely for the sake of it. If you're anything like me, you can't imagine how someone could purposefully inflict fear, injury, or cruelty on someone else. Is my description of how you feel correct? I did forget to share a couple of minor things, though. Benjamin prefers to be called “Benji”, and he’s a dog. How do you feel now?

The dignity of human beings is universally accepted. When we are humiliated or degraded, there is widespread agreement that we are harmed. But, for some reason, animal dignity is a point of contention, and I'm not sure why. When someone’s dignity is destroyed, they are no longer able to live their lives as they were intended. We don't need to be told how valuable, priceless, and irreplaceable all living beings, not just humans, are. This isn't just something I'm thinking out loud about. Biocentrism, an ethical perspective that holds that all life deserves equal moral respect and has the same moral standing, underpins the concept of dignity in all living creatures. To put it another way, all sentient beings have intrinsic worth and should be treated with respect.

Donna Hicks Ph.D. lists 10 essential elements of human dignity in her book Dignity, of which I will emphasize three. The first is fairness. People should be treated fairly, equally, and on an even footing. Safety comes in second. We need to put people at rest on two levels: physically, so they don't feel threatened, and psychologically, so they don't feel humiliated. When someone’s spirit is broken by shame or humiliation, the internal injury grows and festers, poisoning their sense of value. The acceptance of identity is the third element. It entails approaching people with the mindset that they are neither superior nor inferior to us. Not only are inherited features used to legitimize a variety of destructive activities but they are also utilized to justify the perpetrator's sense of superiority. Call me crazy, but when I consider these essential elements of dignity, I don't see why they shouldn't apply to animals as well (in this paragraph, substitute "people" with "animals" to understand my point).

Raising awareness of our acts is the first step toward ending animal cruelty and degradation. When we are unaware of the consequences of our actions on animals, and our culture supports and encourages that ignorance, we unwittingly continue to damage them. After spreading awareness, we must take responsibility for our actions. If we breach their rights, we must cease and desist from harming them as soon as possible. Finally, explicit societal rules are required to prevent and correct our wrongdoings. The mere fact that something is legal does not imply that it is right. In this regard, Switzerland stands out as the only country in the world that protects animal dignity at the constitutional level. Nobody may wrongfully subject an animal to pain, suffering, fear, anxiety, or humiliation, according to the Swiss Animal Welfare Act.

Appreciating the dignity of animals, as well as that of all other living beings, boils down to respecting our own dignity, in my opinion. It is we, not they, who are undignified if we fail to respect the intrinsic worth of others. People who respect their dignity, according to German philosopher Immanuel Kant, take their obligations seriously, particularly their responsibilities to rule themselves appropriately and to make something decent for themselves and their life. As a result, self-respecting people perceive certain ways of acting, thinking, and feeling as befitting their status as individuals.

The science is increasingly clear: The animals we have at home, the animals we eat, the animals we use in laboratories, the animals who provide us with clothing, and the animals whose backs we ride on possess more cognitive complexity, emotions, and overall intricacy than has long been believed, points out nonprofit organization The Human League. This sophistication makes animals highly vulnerable to physical pain and to the psychological effects of frequent denial of choice. Animal rights’ advocates like me strive to end not only the systematic brutality that some people, companies, and institutions impose on animals but also the widespread violation of their dignity.

Granting animals rights and respecting their dignity is contentious. Some people might even mock what I've said thus far. I could try to persuade them otherwise by asking them to witness firsthand the deplorable living conditions and welfare violations that some facilities perpetuate. I could go on and on about the atrocities that some inflict on their pets. I could count the millions of animals that are viciously hunted for "fun". And I could convey the desolation seen through the eyes of a living being held captive in a laboratory. I'm not going to do it. Instead, I will tell these people the following: Just think back to how you felt when you first learned of Benjamin’s dignity being shattered. Why would you feel different about Benji?

Author: Esteban Polidura, CFA. January 22, 2022.